An Israeli air strike in eastern Lebanon killed several people, including a high-ranking member of a Palestinian group and his bodyguard, while they were traveling to Syria, the media and his group reported today, quoted by the Associated Press, writes BTA.
The air strike near the Lebanese border crossing "Masna" yesterday afternoon killed Mohammed Wisha, a member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the group said in a statement.
The Israeli army confirmed the airstrike, saying Wisha was responsible for coordinating actions with other armed groups in the region and strengthening ties between the PFLP and Iran's so-called axis of resistance.
The Israeli military said Wisha had been preparing attacks on Israel and had taken over as the PFLP's top security official in Syria after his predecessor was killed in an airstrike in Beirut in September.
In a post on social media, senior PFLP official Marwan Abdel Al expressed condolences for the deaths of Wisha and his bodyguard, Mufid Hussein.
"We have lost two of our most loyal comrades who gave their precious "We gave our lives for freedom," Abdel Al wrote.
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that the airstrike in eastern Lebanon killed six people and wounded 10 others, without naming the victims.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, Israel has targeted Palestinian officials in Lebanon, including members of the PFLP. Three PFLP members were killed in an airstrike on an apartment in Beirut in September.
A PFLP official said that Wicha was in Lebanon to meet with other members of the group and was on his way back to Syria when he was hit by the airstrike.