Israeli strike kills Islamist commander in eastern Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon has killed a commander in the Lebanese Islamist group al-Jamaa al-Islamiya (Assembly of Islam), an ally of Hamas.

According to local media reports, Muhammad Hamid Jabara, from the town of Qaraoun, was killed at 6:30 local time (0330 GMT) Thursday by an Israeli drone attack that targeted his truck.

The report said that the attack led to the whole vehicle being set ablaze.

In June, the Israeli army said it had killed Ayman Ratma, who was responsible for weapons supplies for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in eastern Lebanon.

The militant group did not comment initially.

The organisation is close to Hezbollah and Hamas and claims to support the Shiite Hezbollah militia’s fight against Israel.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon.

Most recently, the fighting has escalated significantly with casualties on both sides.