Army and Civil Defense on the road to Araya, where a drone struck a car, killing its driver, on Oct. 31, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Since Thursday morning, several targeted Israeli drone strikes have hit vehicles across multiple regions in Lebanon, killing at least three people, according to our correspondents in the south, Sarah Abdallah in the Bekaa, and the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
In Araya, a locality near the international highway leading to Syria about 10 kilometers from Beirut, a vehicle was targeted for the second time in 24 hours, killing its driver. “An Israeli drone targeted a Mercedes on the Araya road, killing the driver,” whose identity has not yet been confirmed, a security source told AFP. The NNA confirmed that an “enemy drone” had targeted the car.
Constantin Irani, a former mayor of the village, reported that today’s targeted vehicle was struck by two drone shots, destroying it without any visible missile explosions. On Wednesday, a van targeted near the same spot was found carrying ammunition, which the Lebanese army later had to detonate.
“Doing what they can”
The car targeted Thursday was headed toward Beirut. The area is largely residential, and Irani reported broken windows in several homes from the attacks on both Wednesday and Thursday. He said the Lebanese Army is attempting to manage the situation “with the resources they have.”
On Wednesday, the municipalities of Araya and Kahaleh issued a statement “condemning the use of international roads for the movement of armed individuals and weapons, endangering innocent civilians.” They called on the Lebanese army to take necessary measures to prevent such activity.
On Oct. 24, an Israeli drone strike in the same area killed two people. In August 2023, two people were killed in clashes between Kahaleh residents and Hezbollah members after a truck transporting munitions overturned on the road, causing internal clashes.
Bekaa and South Lebanon
Other targeted strikes were also reported in Qaraoun, in the Bekaa region, which was targeted twice. The first of these strikes, in the morning, killed the driver of a two-wheeler, who has not yet been identified, according to our correspondent.
Other targeted strikes were reported Thursday morning in Qaraoun, Bekaa. A strike on a motorcycle killed the driver, who has not been identified, according to our correspondent.
In South Lebanon, another motorbike was hit on the road between Sour and Naqoura along the coast. According to information from our correspondent in the south, the person on board was killed. The victim was identified as Staff Sergeant Wi'am Ali Soueid of the Lebanese Army, originally from Dhaira in the same region. The Lebanese army has not yet announced his death.
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