Israel says killed Hezbollah operative in Mansouri strike

Israel's military said Monday it had killed a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon, a region that has witnessed several attacks despite the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group.

"Yesterday evening (Sunday)... The IDF struck and eliminated Hezbollah terrorist Muhammad Ali Shuweikh in the Mansouri area in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

The army said the targeted operative was the local representative for Hezbollah in the area.

"He was responsible for communication between the terror organisation and the residents of the area regarding financial and military subjects. Additionally, the terrorist operated to seize private assets for terror use," it added.

"The terrorists' activities constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

The Lebanese health ministry on Sunday said the strike hit a car in the town of Mansouri, just over 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Israeli border, and "resulted in the martyrdom of a citizen".

A report from Lebanon's National News Agency said the deceased was a school principal in Mansouri.

In November last year, Lebanon and Israel agreed a ceasefire to end more than a year of fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militia, which broke out after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said Israeli soldiers shot at its troops on Sunday in the south of the country, while Israel's military said it had spotted two suspects and fired warning shots.

The IDF cited "poor weather conditions" and said it had not deliberately directed fire towards United Nations troops.