The Israeli Army confirmed the death of yet another high-ranking member of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah in an airstrike in the south of the border country, where the escalation of tensions in recent weeks has raised fears of an open war.
The Israeli military identified the terrorist as Muhamad Mustafa Ayub, described as an “essential” operative in the Nasser unit’s missile and rocket department.
“Its elimination is part of the activities of the Israeli Army and security forces to prevent Hezbollah’s military buildup and weapons stockpiling,” officials said in a statement.
Israel accused Ayub, whose death was confirmed shortly before by Hezbollah – which identified him simply as a “combatant” – of carrying out “terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and communities” in southern Lebanon.
Since the start of hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-backed group, the day after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has launched more than five thousand rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosive drones against Israeli territory.
This morning, Israel intercepted a drone that entered its airspace near the city of Acre, a major population center in the north, while on Sunday its forces bombed four Hezbollah military installations in Chaqra, Taybeh, Mehabib and Kfarkela.
US envoy meets with Netanyahu to discuss tension
Amos Hochstein, White House mediator for the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, met this Monday (17) with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s President, Isaac Herzog, to discuss the escalation of tension on the northern border and seek ways to avoid an open war with the Shiite group.
The envoy discussed with Herzog “the urgent need to restore security on the northern border and allow residents to return to their homes,” according to a statement from the Israeli presidency.
Netanyahu’s office, for its part, offered almost no details about the meeting, beyond listing the participants and releasing photos.
Hochstein is also expected to meet later today with former War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid.
The American envoy’s trip takes place on the same day that Netanyahu announced the dissolution of the War Cabinet, a mechanism created on October 11 to make decisions on the military operation in the Gaza Strip, following Gantz’s resignation last week.
Sensitive decisions about the war will be taken from now on in a smaller consultation forum, in which Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will participate; and Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer; the head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, and the orthodox leader of the Shas party, Arieh Deri, from Netanyahu’s circle of trust.
Meanwhile, tension with Hezbollah on the northern border continued to intensify, raising fears of an open conflict in southern Lebanon. (With EFE Agency)
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