Lebanon denies soldier killed in Israeli strike had ties to Hezbollah |
Lebanon on Tuesday rejected Israeli accusations that a Lebanese soldier killed in an airstrike near the southern city of Sidon had links to Hezbollah, after Israel said it had attacked three operatives working to rebuild the terror group’s infrastructure.
The Israel Defense Forces said the three men were involved in planning attacks against its forces and that two were members of Hezbollah’s air defense unit. It also alleged that one of those killed, Ali Abdullah, was serving concurrently in Lebanese army intelligence.
The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said the strike was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometers (six miles) from Sidon.
The Lebanese army later confirmed that Warrant Officer Ali Abdullah of the army’s Support Brigade and Anti-Tank Regiment was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle near Sidon on Monday.
The Lebanese defense ministry said suggestions that army personnel were tied to political or armed groups were false, and Defense Minister Michel Menassa said such reports amounted to a “malicious attack” on the institution.
A Hezbollah official also denied to Reuters any link between the group and members of the Lebanese army.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing to try to........