An Israeli drone strike targeted a car north of Sidon in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing three individuals, including a Hezbollah fighter, Lebanese security sources told Reuters.
The strike reportedly targeted a figure associated with Hamas, but the security sources told Reuters that the supposed intended target survived the incident.
Israeli media, citing Lebanese media sources, named the Hamas-associated individual as Bassel Saleh. Saleh was reportedly wounded by the strike. His condition is unknown.
The strike took place on the Wadi al-Zaina road in the town of Jadeira, according to various reports from social networks in Lebanon.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing two drones flying over the area for hours – before two consecutive explosions were heard, according to Israeli media. The area is about 55 km from the border with Israel.
Two men are reported to have come on a motorcycle to help, but a second missile was fired at them, so they sheltered with a young Syrian who happened to be passing through the area.
Lebanese networks reported that Khalil Fars from the town of Aitaroun near the Israeli border was killed in the attack.
Conflicting reports
Sky News reported that the target was a member of Hezbollah, while other networks, including Al-Arabiya, reported that they were members of Hamas.
The Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar reported on ambulance crews, including four injured people traveling from a nearby church.
This is the second time since the beginning of the war that an attack in Sidon has been attributed to Israel.
This is one of the more distant airstrikes since the beginning of the war, after the strike in Beirut, which eliminated Saleh al-Arouri.
Abhinav Thawait is a globe-trotting correspondent with a passion for international affairs. With a background in international relations, he offers a global perspective on the most pressing issues around the world. Abhinav’s curiosity takes his to the far corners of the earth, where he seeks to share untold stories and diverse viewpoints.
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