Another Hezbollah fighter killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT

Another Hezbollah fighter was killed in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese group said on Thursday.

The group identified the slain fighter as Abbas Ibrahim Hamada, without specifying the circumstances of his death.

The Israeli army, for its part, confirmed that Hamada was killed in a drone strike in the town of Deir Kifa.

A military statement said that Hamada was allegedly the operations officer of Hezbollah’s Jouaiyya regional unit.

At least 347 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces since Oct. 8, 2023, according to an Anadolu tally.

The Israeli army said Tuesday that it approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon amid rising border tensions with Hezbollah.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 37,400 people since last Oct. 7 following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar