In a targeted attack, Mohammad Hamid Jabara, a senior official in the “Dawn Forces” affiliated with the “Islamic Group,” was killed when his vehicle was struck on a road in the town of Gaza, located in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, according to the Central News Agency.
An Israeli drone conducted the strike on Jabara’s vehicle, causing it to burst into flames on the Gaza-Bekaa road.
The Lebanese Civil Defense confirmed the fatality resulting from the Israeli air raid in Gaza-Bekaa.
Their statement read: “At 6:30 AM on July 18, 2024, Civil Defense personnel extinguished a fire caused by an Israeli airstrike that targeted a four-wheel drive vehicle in the town of Gaza, Bekaa. Other agencies retrieved the martyr’s body and transported it to the hospital.”
Additionally, the previous evening, Israeli warplanes launched three airstrikes targeting the town of Aitaroun and the outskirts of the town of Taybeh in southern Lebanon.
The National News Agency of Lebanon reported that one of these strikes on Aitaroun involved two air-to-ground missiles, while a prior strike in the same area failed to detonate.
These incidents occur amid ongoing clashes along Lebanon’s southern border, where there has been an exchange of fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah fighters since October 8, following Israel’s declaration of war on Gaza.
The escalation of hostilities in southern Lebanon reflects the broader regional tensions, with Hezbollah and Israel frequently engaging in skirmishes.
The Bekaa Valley, a strategic area, has witnessed various militant activities, adding to the complexity of the conflict.
This latest drone strike underscores the volatile nature of the region and the continuing threats posed by militant groups and their engagements with Israeli forces.