Israel claims killing 3 Hezbollah members in strike on Lebanon

ISTANBUL

The Israeli army on Tuesday claimed to have killed three Hezbollah members in a strike that hit Sidon in southern Lebanon a day earlier.

In a statement, the army said one of the deceased members was also working for Lebanese intelligence simultaneously.

The Lebanese army, for its part, mourned First Sergeant Ali Abdullah, saying he was killed in an Israeli strike targeting his vehicle near of Sidon city.

The army called reports circulated by the Israeli army about the affiliation of one of the victims “false and misleading information.”

It called on the public “not to be influenced by reports that seek to cast doubt on the army’s role during this sensitive and exceptional period.”

Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported on Monday the death of three people after an Israeli strike hit a car on the Aqtnit–Quneitra road in Sidon.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the report.

Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire in November 2024 after more than a year of cross-border attacks amid the war in Gaza. More than 4,000 people were killed, and 17,000 others got injured.

Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon in January but have only partially pulled out, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts.