Lebanese state media identified the slain man as Ibrahim Salameh, an employee of the Blida municipality, a village near the border with Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the raid and said it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure when it fired at a “suspect”. It said the incident was under review.
The killing led to widespread anger in Lebanon over repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty. In the hours after the raid, Israel carried out airstrikes in Labouneh, in south-west Lebanon, and Israeli drones could be heard flying low over Beirut.
The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, condemned the raid and ordered the Lebanese army to confront Israeli soldiers in any future incursions on Lebanese territory. In a statement, Aoun instructed the army to “confront any Israeli incursion into liberated southern territory, in defence of Lebanese territory and the safety of citizens”.