An anti-tank missile launched by Hezbollah militants from Lebanon struck an orchard near the northern border community of Margaliot in Israel on Monday, resulting in the death of an Indian national and injuring two others. The victims, all hailing from the southern Indian state of Kerala, were identified as Patnibin Maxwell, Bush Joseph George, and Paul Melvin.

Patnibin Maxwell, a native of Kerala’s Kollam, was pronounced dead at Ziv Hospital, while Bush Joseph George sustained injuries to his face and body and underwent surgery at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. Paul Melvin, from Kerala’s Idukki district, suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized at Ziv Hospital in Safed city.

The Indian Embassy in Israel has confirmed the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The Israeli Embassy in India condemned the attack as a “cowardly terror attack” by Hezbollah and assured that the injured are receiving treatment from top medical professionals in Israeli hospitals.

Hezbollah, a Shi’ite militant faction in Lebanon, has been launching attacks on northern Israel since October 8, purportedly in support of Hamas. In response to the recent strike, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including military buildings and headquarters.