An Israeli Soldier in South Lebanon Is Killed in Guerrilla Rocket Attack

A guerrilla rocket attack killed an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon on Tuesday--the first Israeli fatality in Lebanon in five months, and the first since Israel and Syria resumed peace talks.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel responded with an artillery barrage at Hezbollah outposts, and exchanges of fire persisted throughout the day.

Israel claims that Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon, can control Hezbollah. The government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has made clear that it expects restraint during its now-stalled talks with Syria.

The soldier was killed when a guerrilla antitank rocket scored a direct hit on the Israeli military outpost in Biyada, which overlooks the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanese security officials said.

The Israeli military confirmed the soldier’s death but did not release his name. The last Israeli fatalities in Lebanon occurred Aug. 17, when three soldiers died.

Later Tuesday, two Israeli planes launched missile strikes on suspected guerrilla hide-outs in Iqlim el Toufah province, a Hezbollah stronghold, the Lebanese officials said. One of the two fired missiles hit a two-story building, wounding two women, the officials said.

Biyada, a frequent target of Hezbollah guerrillas, is 11 miles south of Tyre in an Israeli-occupied zone. It is a mile north of the Israeli border along the Mediterranean coast.