Two Australians, one of whom was allegedly a member of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, were killed in an Israeli attack in Lebanon, according to Australia's official statement on Thursday, December 28.
In a report by The Times of Israel, the airstrike that occurred on Tuesday, December 26, in the village of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon killed Ibrahim Bazzi and his brother Ali Bazzi, said Acting Foreign Minister Mark Dreyfus.
As per media sources, Ibrahim just arrived in Lebanon from Sydney to join his Lebanese wife, Shorouq Hammoud, on their journey to Australia. The assault also claimed the life of Hammoud, who had just been granted a visa to Australia.
The banner of Hezbollah--an ally of the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, which is currently at war with Israel in the Gaza Strip--was placed over each of the three coffins.
The coffins of a Hezbollah fighter and two of his relatives who were killed in Israeli bombardment the previous night are displayed during their funeral procession in Bint Jbeil, in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel, on December 27, 2023, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
Suspected Hezbollah Member
The assertion by Hezbollah that Ali was a member of their fighting group is reportedly being investigated by Australia.
In accordance with Australian legislation, Hezbollah is a designated terrorist group. Dreyfus informed reporters that it is a serious crime for any Australian to be involved with or assist a terrorist group like Hezbollah.
Despite claims from locals that Ali was a civilian, Hezbollah issued a statement describing him as a "martyr on the road to Jerusalem."
Dreyfus said that his government had discussed the attack with Israel, but he chose not to reveal the details of their conversation. "In the context of the current conflict, Australia has consistently called for civilian lives to be protected and we have consistently raised our concerns about the risk of this conflict spreading," Dreyfus added.
The Australian government has warned its citizens against visiting Lebanon, a warning that Dreyfus reiterated, as reported by ABC News. People currently in the nation are advised to depart as soon as commercial flights are available to them.
He assured the Bazzi family that the Australian embassy in Beirut was prepared to provide consular support in the event that it was needed.
When questioned about the event, the Israeli military said that one of its jets had attacked a Hezbollah military facility in Lebanon at the time.
Hezbollah then proceeded to shoot dozens of missiles toward Israel, hitting residential houses in Kiryat Shmona after the attack.
Despite the lack of casualties, the strikes seemed to constitute the most powerful bombardment on northern Israel since the area came into conflict on October 7, when Hamas launched its surprise brutal assault on southern Israel.
See Also: Israeli Raid Kills 6 Palestinians in West Bank City of Tulkarm
October 7 Aftermath
After the killings on October 7 and the conflict that followed in Gaza, Israel swore to wipe out the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, leading to the almost daily battles on Israel's northern border.
As a demonstration of solidarity with the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah and other associated Palestinian organizations along the Lebanon border have claimed responsibility for the strikes on Israel.
