Hezbollah says it targeted Israeli tank near Lebanese border

By Wassim Samih Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) — Lebanon's Hezbollah group said early on Wednesday that it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank at the site of al-Rahib on the Israeli side of the border, resulting in the death and injury of the tank's crew.

It said in a statement, received by Anadolu, that a group of its fighters called Martyrs Hussein Hani al-Taweel and Mahdi Mohammad Atoui "targeted an Israeli Merkava tank belonging to the 'occupation' army at 3.15 a.m. (0015GMT) on Wednesday at the site of al-Rahib," which is opposite Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon.

"It was a direct hit, leading to the death and injury of its crew," it added.

Tensions have flared along the Israeli-Lebanese border amid an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The escalation came amid a massive Israeli air campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas into Israeli border towns.

Hezbollah has fought several wars with Israel, the last in 2006, when the Lebanese group struck major Israeli cities with rockets, causing significant material damage.

More than 1,000 Lebanese were killed in the conflict, while much of southern Lebanon — a Hezbollah stronghold — was devastated by Israeli attacks.

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala