22 August 2023: In the early hours of Wednesday, four Hezbollah operatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting southern Lebanon’s Matmoura region. The Lebanese resistance group confirmed the deaths, referring to the operatives as martyrs on the “road to Jerusalem,” a term the group uses for members killed in Israeli strikes, reported the Al Jazeera.
This latest incident raises the death toll of Hezbollah fighters to 419 since the conflict in Gaza intensified on October 7, 2023. The ongoing conflict has seen Hezbollah launching attacks on Israel from Lebanon, while Israel responds with airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s positions.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley also resulted in the death of one civilian and left 19 others injured. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted Hezbollah’s weapons storage facilities in the Baalbek area in retaliation for Hezbollah’s earlier drone attack in northern Israel.
This exchange of attacks comes amid heightened tensions following the assassination of key Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr on July 30, which Hezbollah attributes to Israel. The conflict, which began with a deadly assault by Hamas on southern Israel, continues to escalate, drawing Lebanon further into the fray as Hezbollah intensifies its involvement.
The situation remains volatile, with both sides continuing to exchange heavy fire, causing significant casualties and further destabilizing the region.
