Israeli Doctor Killed in Drone Attack in Southern Lebanon
Captain Dr. Ori Yosef Silvester from Tel Aviv killed near Beaufort as conflict continues despite ceasefire negotiations
Captain Dr. Ori Yosef Silvester from Tel Aviv killed near Beaufort as conflict continues despite ceasefire negotiations
Captain Dr. Ori Yosef Silvester, a physician from the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion from Tel Aviv, was killed in a drone attack near Beaufort in southern Lebanon. In the same attack, two officers and one soldier were seriously wounded, while four others sustained light to moderate injuries.
The Israeli military has struck over 150 targets in Lebanon over the past two days, including Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern part of the country. Targets included weapons depots, command centers, and rocket launchers belonging to the Shiite organization Hezbollah.
On Saturday, Israel renewed evacuation orders for five villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, instructing residents to relocate north of the Zahrani River. The Israeli military conducted several strikes across southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.
In addition to Israeli losses, on Saturday an Israeli strike on a military vehicle on the road between Khardalie and Nabatiyeh killed three Lebanese soldiers, two officers and one soldier. The Lebanese army condemned the "continuation of deliberate and repeated brutal Israeli attacks" that "aim to thwart all efforts to reach a solution".
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the latest attack a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty despite Lebanon's efforts in Washington negotiations to end the continuation of Israeli aggression".
Hezbollah called the attacks a "heinous crime" and criticized the Lebanese government for exposing its own country to further bloodshed through "complete surrender to enemy demands in Washington". The organization rejected the conditional ceasefire announced this week in Washington that requires Hezbollah to cease fire and withdraw from the Israeli border.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed accusations that Lebanon is a bargaining chip for Tehran. "If Lebanon were a bargaining chip for Iran, we would already have a deal," he wrote on social media platform X, adding: "Save Lebanon from your real enemy, Mr. President."
The latest incidents show how the conflict continues to escalate despite recent diplomatic efforts. The conditional ceasefire requires the Lebanese army to deploy to new "pilot zones" in the area where it would have exclusive control, but Hezbollah demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
