Israeli strike kills 3 including child in southern Lebanon

After the abduction at dawn Sunday of a member of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in Hebbarieh, in the Hasbaya district, the Israeli army targeted a van in a deadly strike in Yanouh, in the Sour district, according to our correspondent.

The vehicle was hit in front of the village municipality building. Among the victims were the driver — a retired member of the Lebanese army — as well as a father and his four-year-old son who happened to be there at the time of the strike. They were the son and grandson of the president of the Yanouh municipality.

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the strike through its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, via two messages published a few hours apart. In the second message, the Israeli army said it had targeted Ahmad Ali Salami, described as "one of Hezbollah's artillery officials." According to the spokesperson, who did not provide any concrete evidence for the claim, this man allegedly "took part in numerous rocket attacks against Israeli forces and Israeli territory during the war" and had "recently worked to rebuild Hezbollah's artillery capabilities from populated areas in Lebanon."

In the statement, the Israeli army says it is "doing everything possible to avoid further civilian casualties" and adds that an investigation is underway into the deaths of the child and his father.

This deadly strike was not the only violation of the cease-fire reached at the end of November with Hezbollah that occurred Sunday. An Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the town of Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district) late morning. Early in the afternoon, other Israeli drones dropped three stun grenades on the village of Zalloutieh and a fourth on Yarin (Sour district), as warplanes flew over the region.

A man was wounded by gunfire from the Israeli side on the outskirts of the locality of Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district, our correspondent reported. Hit in the shoulder, the municipal employee was seriously injured, according to the village mokhtar, and was transferred to a local hospital.

An Israeli drone also flew over the farms of Sarda and Amra, in the Marjayoun district, broadcasting pre-recorded voice messages ordering the farmers present to leave the area.