Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon’s Tyr region caused at least 11 people to be killed and 48 others injured, according to reports from AFP citing Lebanon’s ministry of health.
The latest strikes are part of a series of escalating attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, following earlier military operations in the area.
The Tyr region, located in southern Lebanon, has been a focal point of recent Israeli military actions. In late October, similar strikes in the region reportedly caused damage to multiple heritage sites and left 16 people injured, as per Al Jazeera.
These recent airstrikes come shortly after an Israeli attack in Beirut, which led to the death of Hezbollah’s media relations chief, Mohammed Afif. The Times of Israel reported that Afif, who was also known as the “Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah,” was killed in a targeted airstrike on Sunday.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of Afif.
The IDF described him as a senior Hezbollah operative who was closely involved in advancing and executing the group’s terrorist activities against Israel. The post further highlighted that Afif was responsible for broadcasting messages that glorified and incited terrorist actions, alongside numerous psychological operations aimed at the Israeli public.
“Afif’s impact on the terrorist organization proves that he was directly involved in Hezbollah’s terrorist activity against the State of Israel,” the IDF noted in their statement.
The airstrikes and Afif’s death also come following an attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home. On the same day as the Beirut airstrike, three suspects were detained for allegedly throwing flares at Netanyahu’s residence.
This attack follows an earlier incident in October when a Hezbollah drone targeted Netanyahu’s private residence, causing cracks in a bedroom window but failing to breach the property. Images from Israeli media revealed the extent of the damage but reported no casualties.