Israel killed a top commander of Hezbollah in a strike on south Lebanon, a security source told AFP, adding to fears the conflict in Gaza could spill over.

The commander “had a leading role in managing Hezbollah’s operations in the south,” the security official said requesting anonymity for security concerns, adding he “was killed in an Israeli raid targeting his car in the south”.

The security sources identified him as Wissam Al-Tawil, the deputy head of a unit within the Radwan force. They told Reuters that he and another Hezbollah fighter were killed when their car was hit in a strike on the Lebanese village of Majdal Selm.

“This is a very painful strike,” one of the security sources said. Another said, “Things will flare up now.”