Israeli missiles targeted a convoy of tankers crossing the Syrian border into Lebanon today, killing at least five people and wounding five others. Three of those killed were reportedly Syrian members of Hezbollah. Two Lebanese, not affiliated with Hezbollah, were also killed.
Israel fired nine missiles at the convoy, causing substantial damage and casualties among both those ferrying the tankers across the border and bystanders. At least five were reported as wounded and two as missing.
The attacks took place in the Hermel District of northeast Lebanon, along the Syrian border. Israel has yet to comment on the matter, and what information there is has come from Lebanese security sources and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
It is unclear whether the primary targets were the tankers or the Hezbollah members. It is also not clear why tankers would be targeted. A building was also reportedly hit.
Earlier in the day, Hezbollah reported and Israel confirmed the shootdown of a Hermes 900 Israeli drone. The drone was armed to carry out attacks, but also had been used to conduct surveillance. It was shot down over southern Lebanon.
New reports out of southern Lebanon portray a bleak situation, both for the tens, perhaps hundred thousand civilians who fled the war-torn area, as well as for those who stayed behind. Southern Lebanon, mostly an agricultural area, has sustained major damage during the past eight months of Israeli attacks, and locals fear a worsening situation as attacks escalate.
Source: AntiWar.
