An Israeli strike in Syria on Tuesday resulted in the death of a former personal bodyguard of Hezbollah leader, as confirmed by a Hezbollah official. The incident occurred near the Syria-Lebanon border, with reports indicating that an Israeli drone targeted a car in the area.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that two Hezbollah members in the car were killed in the strike, while a Syrian driver sustained critical injuries. Syrian authorities and the Israeli military have not yet provided official comments on the incident.
Hezbollah later identified the deceased militant as Yasser Nemr Qranbish, highlighting his previous role as a bodyguard for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Social media posts from Hezbollah supporters mourned his death, referring to him as the 'shield of the Sayyed'.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since October have resulted in the deaths of over 450 individuals, predominantly Hezbollah fighters, along with more than 80 civilians. On the Israeli side, casualties include 17 soldiers and 11 civilians since the conflict in Gaza began. The ongoing war has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
Israel has a history of launching strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria without formal acknowledgment. Recent months have seen an escalation in these strikes amid the conflict in Gaza and clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, sparking limited border clashes. Subsequently, the conflict has intensified, with Hezbollah deploying new weapons in their attacks and Israel conducting strikes deeper into Lebanon. Hezbollah has indicated that it will cease its attacks once a ceasefire is established in Gaza.
