The Israeli military says it killed two members of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck and killed Hussein Ali Azkul, who it described as “a significant terrorist operative” in Hezbollah’s Aerial Defense Unit, in southern Lebanon. Azkul was “heavily involved in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks against Israel,” the IDF said in a statement Tuesday.
Hezbollah also acknowledged the death of Azkul in a statement on Tuesday as well, without mentioning the cause or date of death.
The IDF claimed to have killed another “significant terrorist” in Hezbollah’s Aerial Unit — Sajed Sarafand — in the area of Arzoun, in southern Lebanon. Sirens were activated Tuesday morning in the western Galilee area, near the Lebanese border, because of a suspected drone infiltration.
Regional tensions: Israeli and Hezbollah forces have engaged in cross-border fire and tit-for-tat exchanges since October 7, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Hezbollah’s political stance has unambiguously supported the Palestinian militants. It has roundly condemned Israel’s relentless airstrikes on Gaza.
CNN’s Tamara Qiblawi contributed reporting
