Israeli strike in Lebanon kills alleged arms smugglers

BEIRUT - An Israeli drone strike killed two Lebanese brothers in their car on Nov 8, according to Lebanon’s news agency, as Israel said it had hit arms smugglers from a group affiliated to Hezbollah.

The National News Agency report said the pair were from the town of Shebaa and hit while driving on a road on the slopes of Mount Hermon in south-eastern Lebanon, “causing their SUV (sport utility vehicle) to catch fire and resulting in their deaths”.

The Israeli military confirmed that they had conducted a strike near Shebaa and killed two smugglers from the “Lebanese Resistance Brigades”, a group allied to the militant organisation Hezbollah.

“The terrorists were involved in smuggling weapons used by Hezbollah and their activities constituted a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the Israeli military said.

“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will continue to operate in order to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel,” it warned.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed the death toll.

A similar Israeli strike on the morning of Nov 8 on a car near a hospital in the southern city of Bint Jbeil wounded seven people, according to the ministry.

The latest strikes came as the

European Union added its voice to international concern

over Israel’s continued strikes despite its year-old ceasefire with Lebanon.

“Focus by all parties must be on preserving the ceasefire and the progress achieved so far,” the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.

Israel argues that Lebanon is acting too slowly to

disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia

and insists it has the right to carry out operations to protect its border and citizens from attack.

On Nov 6 it announced a series of strikes in southern Lebanon in advance, and urged civilians to evacuate the targeted areas. AFP