Hezbollah on Wednesday issued a statement rejecting that the two people killed in an Israeli UAV strike near Kafr Rumman were operatives, alleging the IDF intentionally targeted Lebanese civilians checking their homes. The accusation, reported by Abu Ali Express, comes after earlier reports named the victims as Ahmad and Mahmoud Asili. Their affiliation remains disputed.
Hezbollah's military media issued a statement late Wednesday evening rejecting Israel's account of the earlier UAV strike near Kafr Rumman in southern Lebanon. The group alleged that the IDF deliberately targeted two Lebanese civilians who were on their way to inspect their homes in the area of Douhat Kafr Rumman, calling it a 'blatant violation of the ceasefire.' The statement did not name the victims or offer supporting evidence.
The strike unfolded in stages reported by The Zioneer throughout Wednesday afternoon. At 16:14, Lebanese reports first said an airstrike hit a vehicle near Nabatieh. Minutes later, the target was identified as Ahmad Asili, followed by the naming of Mahmoud Asili as the second victim. By 19:08, The Zioneer had published a full article identifying Ahmad Asili; a bulletin at 21:57 identified both as residents of Siksakiya, with no affiliation disclosed in initial Lebanese sources. Hezbollah's denial, issued after 21:57, is the first time either the group or any official Lebanese source has addressed the victims' status.
Throughout June, Hezbollah has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, as The Zioneer reported on June 23 and June 10. The IDF has not yet responded to this specific statement, and did not comment on the initial strike.
The victims' affiliation remains unresolved. Initial Lebanese sources did not state whether Ahmad and Mahmoud Asili were civilians or affiliated with any armed group. Hezbollah's denial that they were operatives is itself an unverified assertion, and the IDF has offered no counter-statement.
7 developments
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express claims Hezbollah hid logo from photos of slain operative to portray him as civilian
- StrongIDF says it killed Hezbollah operatives who crossed the Yellow Line using civilian cover at Ali al-Taher ridge
- StrongHezbollah claims hitting Israeli vehicles, repelling advance near al-Tibnah
- StrongGivati Recon unit kills two armed Hezbollah operatives at Ali al-Taher ridge
Source and signal
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