Jerusalem: In a somber turn of events, an Indian citizen has lost his life in a missile attack launched by the Hezbollah group from Lebanon. The incident occurred in the northern region of Israel, near the community of Margaliot, where the anti-tank missile struck a garden area. The attack, which took place on Monday, also left two other Indian nationals injured.
The deceased, identified as a resident of Kerala, was among the foreign workers present at a plantation in the moshav Margaliot in the Galilee region when the missile hit around 11 am local time. Zaki Heller, a spokesman for the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom, confirmed the details of the attack and the casualties involved.
Patnibin Maxwell, hailing from Kollam, Kerala, was the individual who tragically succumbed to the attack. His body was later identified at Ziv Hospital. The two injured, Bush-Joseph George and Paul Melvin, also from Kerala, were promptly taken to medical facilities for treatment. George, who sustained facial and body injuries, underwent surgery at Bellinson Hospital in Petah Tikva and is currently under observation, showing signs of improvement. Melvin, who suffered minor injuries, is receiving care at Ziv Hospital in Safed.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded to the attack with artillery fire targeting the launch site in Lebanon. Additionally, the IDF struck a Hezbollah compound in the town of Chihne and another associated site in Aita ash-Shab, as part of their retaliatory measures.
This attack is part of a series of aggressive actions by Hezbollah, which began targeting Israel’s northern communities and military posts on October 8, purportedly in support of Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the loss of seven Israeli civilians and 10 IDF soldiers, while Hezbollah has reported 229 of its members killed by Israel. The majority of Hezbollah casualties have occurred within Lebanon.
The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange fire, raising concerns over further escalation and loss of life.
