Hezbollah attack in North Israel kills 1, injures 2 from Kerala; Israeli embassy condemns act

One Indian killed, another two injured in anti-tank missile attack in Israel's north

An Indian citizen lost his life, and two others sustained injuries on March 4 when an anti-tank missile launched from Lebanon hit an orchard near Margaliot, a community along Israel's northern border. All three victims are from the state of Kerala in southern India.

The fatal incident occurred in Margaliot, a moshav in the Galilee region, around 11 am on March 4.

A day after the heinous attack, the Israeli Embassy in India took to microblogging site X, condemning the attack and expressing grief for the victims.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one Indian national and the injury of two others due to a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organization Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot yesterday early afternoon," it wrote.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one Indian national and the injury of two others due to a cowardly terror attack launched by Shia Terror organization Hezbollah, on peaceful agriculture workers who were cultivating an orchard at the northern village of Margaliot…

— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) March 5, 2024

Patnibin Maxwell from Kollam, Kerala, was the deceased, identified at Ziv Hospital. Bush Joseph George and Paul Melvin, both from Kerala, were injured and received medical attention, with Melvin being hospitalized at Ziv Hospital in Safed.

"George was taken to the Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva after suffering injuries on the face and body. He underwent an operation, is recovering well, and has been kept under observation. He could speak with his family in India," an official source told PTI.

Earlier reports from Magen David Adom (MDA) suggest that one foreign worker was killed and seven injured in the attack. MDA now specifies seven foreign workers injured, two seriously, taken to different hospitals.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded by shelling the missile launch site with artillery. IDF also reported striking a Hezbollah compound in Chihine, southern Lebanon, and another site in Ayta ash-Shab.

The attacks are linked to Hezbollah's support for Hamas in the ongoing Gaza conflict, with skirmishes causing casualties on both sides since October 8.

(With PTI inputs)