Israel strikes back in Lebanon after Hezbollah kills IDF officer

JERUSALEM, June 1 (JTA) — Israeli forces this week arrested three Hezbollah members during operations in southern Lebanon. Several Lebanese civilians suspected of aiding the gunmen were also detained Sunday, but they were later released. Israeli fighter planes rocketed terrorist targets in the security zone on Sunday. The pilots reported hits, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. The actions came after an Israeli officer, Lt. Yuval Nir, 22, of Rehovot, was killed last Friday during a Hezbollah mortar attack just north of the Israeli border. Nir was leading a patrol from a mission in the security zone back to an army outpost near the border when Hezbollah fighters opened fire. Nir was seriously wounded and later died of his wounds at a hospital.