A house damaged in an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on Aug. 26, 2024. (Credit: Rabih Daher/AFP)
Lebanese security sources told AFP and Reuters on Wednesday that the Israeli airstrike overnight which hit a truck in the northern Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon, targeted "a lorry loaded with Hezbollah missiles," occurring two days after a surge in violence between the Hezbollah and Israel.
The attack, carried out by an Israeli drone shortly before midnight, struck a van on the road linking Rasm al-Hadath to Shaath, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the van’s driver was slightly injured. He reportedly managed to escape after an initial strike missed the vehicle, according to our information. The van was hit and set ablaze during a second strike.
A security source speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity stated, "The Israeli air force targeted two Hezbollah lorries" some 10 kilometers from Baalbeck, a stronghold of the militant group in eastern Lebanon and located near the Syrian border. The source added, "One of the vehicles was hit and a series of explosions were heard in the area."
"Israeli aviation targeted two Hezbollah trucks" about ten kilometers from Baalbeck, a stronghold of the Iran-aligned group near the Syrian border, an unnamed security source told AFP. "One of the vehicles was hit, and successive explosions were heard in the area," they added. A Hezbollah source confirmed the strike and told AFP that the explosions were due to "munition in the lorry catching fire."
Hezbollah later announced the death of one of its members, Mohammed Hassan Taha, while Islamic Jihad announced the deaths of three of its members, Osama Arisha, Hossam Arisha and Firas Qassem.
According to the Israeli army, cited by Haaretz, Qassem was "a person responsible for developing the programs of Islamic Jihad in Syria and Lebanon, as well as recruiting members to carry out anti-Israeli activities in Lebanon."
Damaged Hezbollah rocket launcher
Reuters, citing a security source, reported that the van was transporting "military equipment," likely a damaged rocket launcher under repair.
The Israeli military declined to comment immediately when contacted by AFP.
In recent months, Israel has frequently targeted Hezbollah trucks near the Lebanese-Syrian border, a key supply route for the group. This strike follows the largest escalation of violence between the two sides, who have been exchanging near-daily fire the day after the Gaza war began. Hezbollah has claimed support for Hamas, its ally, opening a "support front" for the Palestinian militant group.
On Sunday, the Israeli army announced it had thwarted a significant Hezbollah attack on Israeli territory, claiming that about 100 aircraft struck over 270 targets in Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed to have launched hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation to the assassination of the party's senior military leader, Fouad Shukur, killed in an Israeli strike on July 30 in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Following this surge in violence, the frequency of exchanges has returned to a more typical pace. Analysts say both sides have exercised restraint, preventing further regional escalation.