The security situation in Lebanon deteriorated on Wednesday following a series of Israeli airstrikes that resulted in several deaths and injuries.
An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle on Wednesday afternoon on the Syrian-Beirut border near the Zabadani Bridge.
The attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including Firas Qassam, head of operations for the Islamic Jihad movement, three Palestinian members of Islamic Jihad, and a Hezbollah fighter named Mohammed Hassan Taha from Baalbek.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed that Qassam was a key figure in operational planning for Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces conducted multiple attacks across southern Lebanon. This included artillery shelling and airstrikes targeting the towns of Khiam, Aitaroun, Odeisseh, and Markaba.
Furthermore, phosphorus shelling resulted in a citizen suffering from suffocation, who was treated later at the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital. Additionally, shelling from Israeli positions caused fires in olive groves and large agricultural areas.
In response to the earlier Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah struck the new headquarters of the Western Brigade south of Yarra, targeting positions and officers. Hezbollah also struck the Ruweiset al-Alam position in the Kfarchouba hills and the Bayad Blida site, both with missile weapons.
Wednesday morning was marked by an Israeli drone strike on the Baalbek-Homs international road, targeting a pickup truck carrying military equipment.
The strike resulted in explosions from the truck’s ammunition, causing temporary displacement of local families and setting up a security cordon in the area.
The Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center reported one person with minor injuries.
