Israeli Attack On Lebanon Kills JI Militant Commander

JAKARTA - Israel's attack on the Beqaa region of Lebanon, reportedly killed two members of a Lebanese militant group that fired rockets across the southern border into Israel.

The Israeli military said its air force was attacking and eliminating the Mosab Khalaf in the Meidoun area of Lebanon. Israel calls the Mosab Khalaf a member of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group that carried out the attack on Israel.

In a statement, JI said two of its field commanders Khalaf Khalaf and relatives were killed in the attack.

Security sources in Lebanon confirmed Khalaf Khalaf was a commander in the armed group, Fajr's troops. The group had previously fired rockets at Israel.

This is the first time Israel has confirmed it has targeted JI members in Lebanon, although more than a dozen members of the group were killed in attacks in Lebanon, including targeting members of the Palestinian Hamas faction in Lebanon.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October 2023 which left 1,200 people dead and left 253 people held hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded with a military campaign in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.

In parallel, Hezbollah and Israel fought each other on the southern border of Lebanon.