BEIRUT 

Two members from Hezbollah and Amal Movement were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Monday, the two groups said.

The two Lebanese groups identified the slain members as Fawzi Hamadi and Ali Ghaleb Shaqir in the attack that targeted the town of Meiss El Jabal.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry also confirmed that two people were killed in the Israeli attack.

Tension has escalated between Hezbollah and Israel since Tel Aviv assassinated senior military commander Fouad Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb on July 30.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was also assassinated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, the following day, in an attack blamed on Israel although Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its responsibility.

Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh's assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr's killing.

At least 393 Hezbollah fighters and 22 Amal members have been killed in clashes with Israel since their border clashes erupted on Oct. 8, 2023, according to an Anadolu tally.

Fears have grown over a full-blown war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed more than 39,600 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio