One Israeli soldier was killed and two others wounded in an attack by the Lebanese Hizbollah movement in the disputed Shabaa Farms area Friday, a Lebanese security official said, quoted by AFP.
The attack occurred at 12:30 pm (1030 GMT) when two bombs exploded and mortar fire was directed at the patrol, with an Israeli army Hummer jeep taking a direct hit.
Hizbollah confirmed it had carried out the attack, said the agency, citing a statement by the group.
In the statement, Hizbollah said its fighters scored a direct hit on an Israeli jeep and that all of its occupants were "killed or wounded."
It said it carried out the attack to mark the week of "homage to the martyrs of the Lebanese Islamic resistance."
The operation came particularly on the anniversary of Israel’s assassination of former Hizbollah’s secretary general, Abbas Moussawi in 1989.
This is the first attack by Hizbollah since last October 7 when one of its units ambushed an Israeli patrol in the same area and captured three Israeli soldiers.
Lebanon demands the Shebaa Farms, which were occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. The Israelis say the disputed area was seized from Syria and its future must be settled by Israel-Syria negotiations. Syria, however, supports Lebanon’s demands, saying the land has been given to the Arab neighbor.
Hizbollah insists that the 20 square kilometer-farms are occupied Lebanese lands and should be liberated.
Meanwhile, Haaretz quoted outgoing Israeli premier, Ehud Barak as saying in a speech at the Eretz Israel Museum after the incident that "we are currently at a time when terrorist attacks are taking place and will continue to take place. A complicated incident has taken place at Har Dov (Shabaa).” -- Albawba.com
