TEL AVIV: The Israeli army reported that one of its soldiers was killed in a Hezbollah rocket barrage fired late Wednesday from Lebanon towards northern Israel. The soldier was identified as Sgt. Ariel Sosnov of the army’s 605th Combat Engineering Battalion. The attack took place at the border settlement of Avivim, resulting in the death of Sgt. Sosnov and injuries to three other soldiers.
According to Anadolu Agency, the incident adds to the growing toll of Israeli military personnel casualties since the onset of the Israeli military campaign on Gaza last October, which has since extended to Lebanon. The current tally of Israeli personnel killed is now 781. Late on Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching rocket attacks on several military sites and settlements across northern and central Israel, including Biriyya, Katzrin, Meron, and Kiryat Shmona, among others.
The Israeli air campaign in Lebanon has been ongoing since late September, targeting what Israel claims are Hezbollah stronghold
s. This marks an escalation in the cross-border conflict that has intensified since the Gaza war began. Lebanese health authorities report that more than 3,000 people have been killed and over 13,500 injured in Israeli attacks since October 2023.