Lebanese Mayor killed in Israeli shelling amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions

The Mayor of a small village in southern Lebanon was killed on Monday after an Israeli artillery shell struck his home amid ongoing cross-border violence between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah ignited by the war in Gaza.

Israel-Hezbollah cross-firing kills Lebanese mayor

Hussein Mansour, mayor of the village of Taybeh, died when the unexploded shell hit his house located just kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border. Family member Mohamed Mansour confirmed the death to the media. Lebanon's official National News Agency also reported Mansour's death.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

Tensions have escalated dramatically in recent days with Hezbollah firing drones and rockets at Israeli army positions Sunday, prompting retaliatory air strikes on multiple villages inside Lebanese territory.

The martyrdom of the mayor of the town Taybeh Hussein Mansour, after an Israeli shell fell near the house in which he was present in the outskirts of the town.

— War Intel (@warintel4u) December 11, 2023

Israeli spokesperson accuses Hezbollah 

After an Israeli government spokesperson accused Hezbollah of "escalating its aggression," a Hezbollah official claimed Israel had initiated the latest round of violence.

The spokesperson, Eylon Levy said Israel does not want war on two fronts but that the country would respond forcefully to attacks. "If Hezbollah decides to drag Israel into a full-scale war, the consequences will be severe for Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon," he warned.