Australia said Thursday that it was investigating alleged links to Hezbollah of two nationals who were killed in Israeli airstrikes in South Lebanon earlier this week.
Three members of the Bazzi family, including a Hezbollah fighter, were killed in Bint Jbeil late Tuesday night when their home was hit by Israeli raids. Ibrahim Bazzi had just returned from Australia to accompany his wife, Shourouk Hammoud, who was also killed in the strike.
Australia confirmed that two of its citizens had been killed in an Israeli airstrike over southern Lebanon, and said it was “investigating Hezbollah allegations that one of them was linked to the armed group.”
Australia’s Acting Foreign Minister, Mark Dreyfus, during a press conference, “We will continue to investigate this particular individual with whom Hezbollah claimed to be linked.”
Dreyfus also pointed out that Hezbollah is a listed “terrorist” organization in Australia, and that it is a crime for any Australian to support it financially or fight in its ranks.
Meanwhile, a series of Israeli air raids on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab and on the Salhani region between Ramya in Bint Jbeil and Marwahin in the western sector, broke the precarious calm tinged with apprehension that had prevailed Thursday morning.
Intensive Israeli warplane flights were also recorded in the airspace of the eastern sector.
Throughout Wednesday night and into the early hours of the morning, Israeli reconnaissance aircrafts flew over the regions of Tyre and the coast above the Blue Line, dropping flare bombs.
The surrounding areas of Naqoura, Alma el-Shaab, Yarin, Jbine, al-Dahira and Aita al-Shaab were also targeted by Israeli artillery on Wednesday evening, while drones attacked the mountains of Labbouneh, al-Shaab, al-Allam and Wadi Hamoul.
A fire also broke out in a water purification workshop in Tayr Harfa following Israeli bombardment that damaged a house, and military aircraft attacked the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, in the central sector.
In addition, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning that the population of northern (Israel) “is collapsed and that the repercussions are not limited to the security situation, but also extend to the psychological and economic situation.”
On the other hand, the number of displaced persons has increased following the Israeli escalation of the last two days, particularly in the villages that have been constantly bombarded, and the rate of displacement has reached over 75% of the population.
