'A critical point': Gallant warns Israel edging closer to war with Hezbollah

Fighter jet intercepts UAV that crosses from Syria into Golan • Indian citizen killed in Hezbollah rocket fire in northern Israel

 Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets for a situational assessment with soldiers from the 'Moran" unit from the artillery forces, March 5, 2024. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets for a situational assessment with soldiers from the 'Moran" unit from the artillery forces, March 5, 2024.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday the continuing tension with Hezbollah terrorists at the border with Lebanon was moving the situation nearer to a military escalation.

"We are committed to the diplomatic process, however Hezbollah's aggression is bringing us closer to a critical point in the decision-making regarding our military activities in Lebanon," he said in a statement following a meeting with US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein.

The IDF also announced on Tuesday that IDF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah military site in the area of Ayta ash Shab from which two anti-tank missiles were launched toward the area of Biranit, also on Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

iAccording to a later Tuesday announcement, the IDF struck a Hezbollah operational command center in the area of Jabal al-Batam, launch posts in the area of Matmoura, and military compounds in the areas of Majdal Zoun, Houla, and Kafra. 

Earlier on Tuesday, an unmanned aerial vehicle that infiltrated the Golan Heights from Syria was intercepted by an Israeli fighter jet, the IDF confirmed, as rockets continued to be fired onto Israel's northern border towns from Lebanon.

The IDF shoots down a drone launched from Syria, March 5, 2024 (IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Indian citizen killed in Hezbollah rocket fire in northern Israel named

It was further announced that Patnibin Maxwell, 31, from India, was killed by anti-tank fire in Margaliot in northern Israel on Monday, Israeli media reported the following day.

He came to Israel in December of last year to work in agriculture. Another two Indians were seriously wounded in the Hezbollah attack.

Patnibin Maxwell, 31, was killed by Hezbollah fire in northern Israel on March 4, 2024. (credit: Via Maariv)
Patnibin Maxwell, 31, was killed by Hezbollah fire in northern Israel on March 4, 2024. (credit: Via Maariv)

India's embassy in Israel on Tuesday advised its nationals working in Israeli border areas to move to safer parts of the country.