Israeli Defense Ministry Contractor Killed in Hezbollah Drone Strike in Southern Lebanon

A civilian contractor working for Israel's Defense Ministry was killed on Tuesday in a Hezbollah drone strike in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. The victim, 44-year-old Amer Hujirat from Shfaram, was operating heavy engineering equipment in the Aitaroun area near Bint Jbeil when an explosive-laden first-person view (FPV) drone struck his excavator. His 19-year-old son, also employed by the same company, sustained light injuries from shrapnel and was treated at Ziv Medical Center in Safed.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it targeted an Israeli bulldozer demolishing homes in Bint Jbeil with an explosive drone. The IDF extended condolences to Hujirat's family and noted that his family had been notified by the Israel Police.

This incident is part of a series of escalating attacks in the region. On Monday, two IDF soldiers were wounded, one seriously, by a Hezbollah drone in southern Lebanon. In response, the IDF has been targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons storage and rocket-related facilities in the Beqaa Valley and other areas in southern Lebanon.

Despite a ceasefire extension announced by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, which added three weeks to the initial 10-day ceasefire, hostilities have persisted. The ceasefire was intended to facilitate direct peace talks between Israel and Lebanon and prevent conflicts from interfering with ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran.

The ongoing violence has resulted in significant casualties. Since March 2, over 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The IDF reports that it has killed over 1,900 Hezbollah operatives in the same period.