The Israeli army said on Tuesday that it killed the commander of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah movement’s rocket unit in a targeted airstrike in southern Lebanon.

The army said it hit and eliminated the commander late Monday near the Lebanese southern port city of Tyre.

It said that Kassem Siklawi was behind the planning and execution of numerous rocket attacks on the Israeli border area. 

Hezbollah confirmed his death in a statement, but did not specify where he was killed.

Hezbollah said a total of six of its fighters were killed in Lebanon and six in Syria on Monday.

On Monday evening, several rockets were fired by Hezbollah towards northern Israel, but it hit uninhabited areas again, the Israeli army said.

Overall, the rocket attacks from Lebanon have recently increased against areas in northern Israel.

Experts believe this is a response to the Israeli advance in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Since the Gaza war began more than seven months ago, Hezbollah has been firing rockets, artillery and anti-tank shells into northern Israel.

The movement has announced on several occasions that it was in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

 So far, more than 320 Shiite militia fighters have been killed in the fighting in the border area.

There have also been several deaths on the Israeli side, both soldiers and civilians.

  (dpa/NAN)