IDF reservist killed, two wounded in drone attack on Lebanon border

Israel asks Western nations to help disarm Hezbollah threat

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Israel Defense Forces announced on Saturday evening that reservist Master Sergeant Yehezkel Azaria, 53, was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack on the Lebanon border earlier in the day.

Azaria, from Petach Tikvah, was reportedly participating in an operational activity close to the border with other soldiers when he was killed. Two other IDF soldiers were injured during the drone attack

The drone that killed Azaria was one of two drones that managed to penetrate the Israeli border on Saturday. The other drone was intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack. In response, the IDF struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon.

The IDF has warned Hezbollah in recent days that it will no longer tolerate continued attacks along its northern border.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen discussed the issue with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna during her visit, saying, "France could play a positive and significant role to prevent a war in Lebanon.”

Israel is asking Western nations, including the United States and France, to help enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of non-government armed forces in the region. The UNSC resolution also established a zone between the Israel-Lebanon border and the Litani River, which is supposed to remain free of any militias or armed groups, except for the UNIFIL peacekeeping force and the Lebanese Army.

However, Resolution 1701 has reportedly never been enforced, and Hezbollah terror forces operate with relative freedom in that region.

Civilian residents of southern Lebanon said the IDF dropped leaflets in the area warning them not to help Hezbollah.

On Sunday, following several mortar, rocket and anti-tank missile launches toward Israel, the IDF and the Israeli Air Force struck several sites in southern Lebanon.

In response to the 3 launches identified from Lebanese territory toward Israel, IDF artillery is striking the source of the fire.

Furthermore, the IDF struck a number of suspects identified in an area in Lebanon known to belong to Hezbollah.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 16, 2023

On Friday, the IDF also announced the beginning of a military exercise called “Valuable Time.”

The exercise will be used to train both active and reserve soldiers for combat scenarios based on a possible Hezbollah invasion of Israel.

Part of the training involves identifying and reinforcing possible breach points along the border to prevent an infiltration attack, similar to the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7, by Radwan Forces, the special-op unit of Hezbollah.

While Israel is asking other nations to help calm the northern border and disarm Hezbollah, on Friday, Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz stated on Friday, if the world “doesn’t get Hezbollah away from the border, Israel will do it.”