TENSIONS escalated after Hezbollah launched a drone attack on an Israeli command base on Tuesday causing Israel to retaliate with air strikes that killed three Hezbollah members.
The Lebanese militant group said the drone attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah field commander Wissam al-Tawil on Monday and the deputy leader of Hamas Saleh al-Arouri on January 2 in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Israel claimed to have killed Hezbollah’s air force commander Ali Hussein Barji, one of the militant group’s high-ranking fighters, during an air strike in Lebanon’s southern region on Wednesday.
The airstrike was launched moments before the funeral of Hezbollah field commander Wissam al-Tawil which was attended by thousands of supporters.
The exchange of strikes between Hezbollah and Israel intensified since Hamas launched the deadly attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah took place as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a diplomatic visit to the Middle East this week.
