A municipal worker in southern Lebanon was killed in an Israeli airstrike while conducting maintenance at a water well, according to the local mayor. The incident occurred in the town of Naqoura, near Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, amid ongoing cross-border tensions.
Naqoura Mayor Abbas Awada confirmed to local media that the man, identified as a municipal employee, was performing routine work at a public water facility when an Israeli drone strike targeted the site. The worker died on the spot, Awada said.
The strike marks the latest escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah-aligned groups in southern Lebanon. Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, the border area between Lebanon and Israel has witnessed frequent exchanges of fire, resulting in dozens of casualties on both sides.
The Lebanese Army has yet to issue a formal statement about the incident, but the mayor emphasized that the location was purely a civilian site. “The well is used to supply water to the residents,” Awada stated. “There were no military activities in the area.”
The Israeli military has not officially commented on the specific strike but has maintained that its operations target Hezbollah installations and prevent the group from establishing new military positions close to the border.
Local residents reported hearing the sound of drones in the area shortly before the explosion. Several homes near the water facility reportedly suffered minor damage due to the blast.
The incident has drawn condemnation from several Lebanese political figures, who accuse Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure in violation of international law. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has called on the United Nations to investigate the attack and to ensure Israeli forces respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Hezbollah has not publicly responded to the strike, and there were no immediate retaliatory actions reported.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors the border area, has urged both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. UNIFIL said it is investigating the incident in coordination with Lebanese authorities.
This latest casualty adds to the growing toll of civilians caught in the middle of cross-border violence. Aid agencies warn that the conflict has displaced thousands and disrupted essential services in the region.
The Israeli-Lebanese border remains a volatile flashpoint, with the risk of a broader conflict looming if the tit-for-tat strikes continue. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation have so far yielded limited results.
Source; Al Jazeera
