Israeli soldier killed, 6 wounded in Hezbollah drone attack in S. Lebanon

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Sunday that a soldier was killed and six others wounded in a drone attack carried out by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the military said the soldier, identified as Idan Fooks, 19, of the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, "fell during combat."

In the same incident, an officer and three additional soldiers were severely wounded, one soldier moderately wounded and another lightly. All were evacuated to a hospital.

The death brings to 16 the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the current round of violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated in early March amid the war with Iran.

The attack on Sunday morning followed fresh Israeli airstrikes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to "vigorously attack Hezbollah targets" in Lebanon.

According to Lebanese official sources, nine people were killed during the day in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in southern Lebanon.

Despite a temporary ceasefire taking force last Friday, Israeli troops remained deployed in southern Lebanon and continue to carry out frequent strikes. Enditem