The federal government is investigating reports that an Australian man, his wife and brother have been killed by a suspected Israeli air strike in Lebanon.
Local media in Lebanon reported that three people, Sydney man Ibrahim Bazzi, 27, his wife Shorouq Hammoud and his brother Ali Bazzi, 30, were killed in an air strike from an Israeli war plane on their two-storey building late on Tuesday.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it was aware of reports that an Australian citizen had died in Lebanon and was investigating.
“DFAT is aware of reports an Australian citizen has died in Lebanon and is seeking confirmation,” a department spokesman said.
According to AFP reports, Ibrahim Bazzi recently left Sydney for Southern Lebanon to visit his wife Ms Hammoud, who recently obtained a visa.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has claimed the man’s brother, Ali, is a party fighter.
They have not claimed Ibraham or his wife were fighters with Hezbollah.
Reports come amid increased violence on the Israel-Lebanon border, with back-and-forth air strikes escalating in the months following Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7.
Senior Israeli minister Benny Gantz alluded to escalation, with Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah telling reporters on Wednesday that the situation on the border “must change”.
Australia escalated its travel own guidance to Lebanon in October, advising travellers to avoid the country, citing the “volatile security situation”.