Israeli Drone Strike Near Syrian-Lebanese Border: Four Killed

An Israeli drone strike near the Syrian-Lebanese border killed three Palestinian fighters and one Hezbollah member. The attack targeted Faris Qasim, a significant figure in Islamic Jihad's operations in Syria and Lebanon. The car was not transporting weapons, but local reports confirmed four casualties.

An Israeli drone strike on a car crossing through a Syrian checkpoint near the border with Lebanon on Wednesday claimed the lives of three Palestinian fighters and a member of Hezbollah, according to two security sources speaking to Reuters.

The Israeli military identified one of the fatalities as Faris Qasim, a notable figure within the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, who was deeply involved in recruiting Palestinians for attacks against Israel. Qasim's involvement extended to operations in Syria and Lebanon. The military also reported that other Islamic Jihad fighters heading from Syria to Lebanon were killed in the strike but did not provide further details.

Security sources confirmed that the targeted car was not carrying weapons. No immediate comments were available from Hezbollah or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A local Syrian official, Abdo al-Taqi, stated on a Syrian radio station that the strike occurred on the road between Damascus and Beirut, resulting in four fatalities.

Both Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, along with other militant groups, have a history of launching attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon, with strong backing from Iran and Syria. These groups frequently transport fighters and weapons across the porous Syrian-Lebanese border. Israel has actively targeted such military movements in Syria for years, intensifying its efforts since October when the Gaza conflict began.

This latest drone strike follows an earlier Israeli airstrike that targeted a pickup truck carrying military equipment in northeast Lebanon, near the Syrian border. A security source told Reuters the truck likely carried a damaged rocket launcher en route for repairs.

(With inputs from agencies.)