1 killed in Israeli attack on car in eastern Lebanon

By Stephanie Rady

BEIRUT (AA) - At least one person was killed on Saturday after Israel targeted a car in a town in eastern Lebanon.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israel “targeted a car at an intersection in the town of Al-Khayara in Western Bekaa.”

It added that the attack killed the person driving the car, who was identified as a resident of the town of Lala in Western Bekaa. His identity and affiliations were not disclosed.

Private Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed reported that the Israeli attack, carried out with a drone, targeted a leader of the Islamic Group – a Sunni movement – without disclosing his identity.

The Israeli army claimed the drone attack “targeted a leader of the Islamic Group in Lebanon named Ayman Ghatmeh, who is responsible for supplying Hamas and the group with weapons.”

The army also claimed that Ghatmeh was planning to "carry out an imminent attack on Israel."

There was no comment from the Islamic Group.

The Lebanese National News Agency also said that Israeli warplanes raided the town of Yaroun in the Bint Jbeil District in southern Lebanon with two air-to-surface missiles, without providing any details.

Lebanese group Hezbollah announced that it “targeted a building used by enemy soldiers in the Al-Manara settlement in northern Israel and achieved a direct hit.”

There was no comment from the Israeli side on the group’s comments.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,500 people since last Oct. 7.

Hezbollah has linked the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Israel's onslaught on Gaza.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi