An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle on Wednesday on the Damascus-Beirut road near the Zabadani Bridge, close to the Syrian-Lebanese border, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including Firas Qassam, the head of operations for the Islamic Jihad movement.

The deceased include three Palestinian members of the Islamic Jihad movement and a Hezbollah fighter. Among them was Mohammed Hassan Taha from Baalbeck, Lebanon. Hezbollah has since confirmed Taha’s death and mourned his loss.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed that the strike successfully targeted Firas Qassam. Adraee stated that Qassam was pivotal in developing operational plans for Islamic Jihad in Syria and Lebanon and played a key role in recruiting Palestinian fighters for Hezbollah to carry out operations against Israeli targets.

Adraee added that the strike occurred as “Islamic Jihad operatives were on their way from Syria to Lebanon to carry out operations on behalf of Hezbollah.”

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