By Naim Berjawi
BEIRUT (AA) - Hezbollah announced Saturday the death of one of its members in ongoing confrontations with the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.
The fatality brought the total to 163 since Oct. 8, according to a tally by Anadolu
The Lebanese group mourned “Ali Hadraj from the town of Al-Bazouriyeh in southern Lebanon, who was martyred on the road to Jerusalem,” without providing details.
Earlier Saturday, the Lebanese official news agency reported that four victims were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a car near Tyre City on a road between the towns of Al-Bazouriyeh and Borj el-Shamali.
Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Hunin Castle and Al-Dhahirah sites with “appropriate weapons.”
Tensions have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel since the Israeli army launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, amid an exchange of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
The Israeli army has since been waging a destructive war on Gaza, leading to 24,927 fatalities, 62,388 injuries and a humanitarian and health catastrophe.
It has also caused the displacement of 1.9 million people, more than 85% of the population, according to Palestinian authorities and the United Nations.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala