Israeli soldier killed, another seriously hurt in Hezbollah attack

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Friday said one of its soldiers was killed and another seriously injured by a rocket attack from the Hezbollah group in northern Israel.

In a statement, the Israeli army said the morning attack took place in Shtula area.

It identified the slain soldier as Sgt. Amit Hod Ziv, 19, who served in the 188th Armored Brigade's 71st Battalion.

The military, however, did not specify the number of soldiers killed or injured in clashes with Hezbollah since the beginning of the latest conflict in Gaza after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

Hezbollah earlier said it struck a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the southern border with Israel, and claimed losses.

Exchange of fire and tensions have been on the rise along the Lebanese-Israeli border since the offensive by Hamas, believed to have killed 1,200 Israelis.

In response, Israel has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza, besides causing mass displacement and devastation, and shortages of food, water and medicines.

Hezbollah and Israel fought a monthlong war in 2006.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar