Indian man killed in Lebanon missile attack on Israel; 2 injured: Report

PTC News Desk: An Indian citizen lost his life while two others were injured on Monday in a missile attack originating from Lebanon, striking an orchard near the northern border community of Margaliot in Israel, according to officials. All three individuals hail from the southern state of Kerala.

The missile struck a plantation in Margaliot, a moshav (collective agricultural community) in the Galilee region, at around 11 am on Monday, as confirmed by Zaki Heller, spokesperson for the rescue services Magen David Adom (MDA), to PTI. Patnibin Maxwell, a resident of Kollam in Kerala, was fatally wounded in the attack, with his body identified at Ziv Hospital, official sources reported. The injured, Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin, were promptly taken to hospitals for treatment.

George, who sustained injuries to his face and body, underwent surgery at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. He is currently recuperating well under observation and has managed to communicate with his family in India, according to an official source cited by PTI. Melvin, who suffered minor injuries, is hospitalized at Ziv Hospital in Safed, Israel. He hails from the Idukki district of Kerala.

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MDA previously stated that one foreign worker was killed and seven others injured in the attack. The incident is believed to have been perpetrated by the Shi'ite Hezbollah faction in Lebanon, which has been launching daily assaults, including rockets, missiles, and drones, towards northern Israel since October 8, in support of Hamas amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

MDA confirmed that a total of seven foreign workers were injured in the attack, two of whom sustained serious injuries. They were transported to Beilinson, Rambam, and Ziv hospitals via ambulances and Israeli Air Force helicopters.

In response, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) shelled the launch site with artillery on Monday. Additionally, the IDF reported targeting a Hezbollah compound in the southern Lebanese town of Chihine, as well as another site belonging to Hezbollah in Ayta ash-Shab, where members of the group had congregated.

Hezbollah's attacks on Israel's northern communities and military positions since October 8 have led to the deaths of seven civilians and 10 IDF soldiers. Hezbollah has disclosed that 229 of its members have been killed by Israel during recent flare-ups, with the majority of casualties occurring in Lebanon, along with some in Syria. Since October 8, 37 operatives from other groups, a Lebanese soldier, and at least 30 civilians have also lost their lives.

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(Inputs from agencies)