Israeli Attacks on Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon Result in at Least Three Deaths

Lebanese state media and a source close to Hezbollah reported that five people were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army confirmed on Sunday, June 6, that these attacks were carried out against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, resulting in the deaths of three members of the group. The official Lebanese news agency, NNA, reported that in an 'Israeli drone attack,' a motorcycle in Aita al-Shaab, a border village in southern Lebanon, was targeted, killing two people and injuring two civilians. The news agency previously stated that a separate attack by an 'enemy aircraft' on the border town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon 'targeted a motorcycle,' resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to several civilians. The Israeli army announced in a statement that it had identified 'a Hezbollah terrorist exiting a military building' in the Naqoura area and targeted and killed this individual with 'an aircraft.' The Israeli army also stated that 'two Hezbollah terrorists who were active in the Aita al-Shaab area were also identified' and targeted. Hezbollah confirmed the death of only one person, with a source close to the group stating that one individual died in Naqoura. The death of 'a Syrian army officer linked to Hezbollah' in a car explosion in Damascus was also reported. Since the extremist group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 6, which initiated the war in Gaza, Hezbollah has been regularly exchanging fire with Israel and has intensified these attacks across the border in recent weeks. This Iranian-backed militia claims these attacks are conducted in support of the people of Gaza and the Hamas group. In response, Israel has expanded its attacks deep into Lebanese territory and has also targeted this militia's headquarters in Syrian territory. On Saturday, June 5, Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in Britain, reported the death of a Syrian officer who had close ties to Hezbollah, who died due to a bomb explosion in a vehicle. According to Mr. Abdulrahman, this officer was a Syrian fighter close to the Islamic Republic who was active with Hezbollah. The Syrian state news agency SANA also reported the death of 'one person due to the explosion of an explosive device in a vehicle' in the Mezzeh area without providing details about the victim. The Mezzeh area is home to the Iranian consulate, which was destroyed in an Israeli attack on April 2, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including two senior IRGC officials and a Hezbollah member. In recent months, several airstrikes have targeted this heavily secured neighborhood, primarily aimed at Iranian officials.