The Japan Times - Lebanon says one killed in Israeli strike near Sidon

Despite a November 27 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, Israel has continued to conduct near-daily strikes in Lebanon.

"The attack carried out by the Israeli enemy against a car on the Sidon-Ghaziyeh road resulted in one dead," a health ministry statement said on the fourth consecutive day of Israeli attacks in the south.

Israel's military later said it had killed a member of Hezbollah in the area.

"Earlier today (Friday), the IAF (Israeli Air Force) conducted a precise strike in the area of Sidon and eliminated the Hezbollah terrorist Muhammad Jaafar Mannah Asaad Abdallah," a military statement said.

It added that Abdallah was "responsible, among other things, for the deployment of Hezbollah's communication systems throughout Lebanon".

An AFP journalist said the Israeli attack hit a four-wheel-drive vehicle, sending a pillar of black smoke into the sky.

At the scene of the strike, members of the security forces stood guard as a crowd gathered to look at the charred remains of the vehicle after firemen had put out the blaze.

The Israeli military has also said it was behind other attacks this week that it said had killed Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah, significantly weakened by the war, insists it is adhering to the November ceasefire, even as Israeli attacks persist.

S.Ogawa--JT