Senior Hamas official survives Israeli assassination attempt

(Patria) - A senior Hamas official survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Lebanon on Saturday, a Palestinian security source told AFP, and rescuers said two civilians were killed in the attack south of Beirut.

Israeli forces and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah have been exchanging almost daily fire since the war between Israel and the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7.

But violence between Israel and Lebanon has largely been confined to the border area, and Saturday's strike was the second deadliest attack away from the border in four months of hostilities.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Israeli forces hit a car in the coastal city of Jadra, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border.

The Palestinian source, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the attack "was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on a senior official of the (Hamas) movement".

An official from the Lebanese Scout Association Risala, which manages rescue teams and is linked to the Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah, told AFP that two civilians were killed.

The official identified them as a vegetable vendor and a Syrian on a motorcycle who happened to be nearby.

There was no comment from Israel.