Alleged Israeli strike along Syrian-Lebanese border

Strike targeted jeep traveling from Syria into Lebanon's Bekaa valley

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
The IDF Hermes 900 Kochav Drone (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
The IDF Hermes 900 Kochav Drone
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
An alleged Israeli aircraft struck a vehicle on Lebanon’s border with Syria, reports from Lebanon said Wednesday.
According to reports, the strike by an unmanned combat aircraft targeted a Jeep Cherokee traveling from Syria into Lebanon despite the border between the two countries being closed both ways since mid-March – except for trade – due to the continued spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The car, which was missing its license plate and had tinted windows, had been traveling in Jdaidat Yabous some 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the Syrian capital of Damascus and across from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
Some unconfirmed reports suggested that the strike had been targeting a Hezbollah operative who had been smuggling weapons to the Lebanese terror group.
While Israel has not commented on the matter, several drone strikes blamed on the Jewish state have killed several Hezbollah operatives in southern Syria along the Golan Heights, where the group has been trying to establish a permanent military presence.
Last week, the IDF accused the Syrian army of helping Hezbollah, publishing video footage from the border showing a senior Syrian Arab Army officer along with a number of other military officers and the head of Hezbollah’s southern command walking along the border.
“Even during the coronavirus period, the new commander of the Syrian army’s 1st Division, Lua’a Ali Ahmad Asa’ad, continues to help and allow the Hezbollah terror group to establish a front on the Golan Heights,” the IDF said in a statement. “In the clip, the new division commander is seen on a patrol of the front, including passing through areas known to be used by Hezbollah, with the head of Hezbollah’s southern command, Hajj Hashem.”
Israel’s military said that the Syrian regime would be held responsible for all enemy activities emanating from its territory.
“Consider this a warning,” the IDF said in a tacit threat.
In September, the IDF said that Hezbollah had set up a production and conversion site for precision missiles near the town of Al-Nabi Chit in Lebanon’s Bekaa, an hour north from the alleged Israeli drone strike on Wednesday.
According to the IDF, the facility was established in recent years as a site for the production of weapons led by Iran and Hezbollah, which has a dedicated assembly line for precision weapons and the transfer of sensitive and dedicated equipment.
The facility has a number of machines designed to manufacture the motors and missile warheads for missiles capable of hitting within 10 meters (32.8 ft.) from its target. Iran, the IDF said, is providing special machinery, trains production operators and regularly provides guidance and support.


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