06 Jul 2024 | 07:58 PM UTC
Lebanon: Israeli drone strike kills Hizballah militant near Shaat, Baalbek District, July 6
Israeli drone strike kills Hizballah militant near Shaat, Baalbek District, Lebanon, July 6; further cross-border violence likely.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a drone strike that killed a Lebanese Hizballah (LH) militant near Shaat, Baalbek District, on July 6. The drone strike reportedly killed Maytham Mustafa al-Attar, a prominent member of the LH's air defense forces, as he was driving near the town. The strike comes amid recurrent cross-border exchanges of artillery fire between the IDF and LH.
Authorities will likely maintain a heightened security presence around the site of the drone strike over the coming hours. Transport disruptions may affect areas subject to increased security. Further cross-border violence is likely over the short term.
Avoid the impacted location until authorities give the all-clear. Plan for localized disruptions, allow additional time for travel, and seek alternative routes to circumvent the affected area. Heed all official directives.
The IDF has regularly retaliated against projectile attacks by the LH. Additionally, the IDF has increasingly begun to target the LH's military infrastructure deeper inside Lebanon in an effort to deter the militant group from carrying out further attacks.
Shaat, north of the LH stronghold of Baalbek, is located about 113 km (70 miles) north-northeast of Metula, the northernmost town in Israel, located on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
