Israeli-American reservist Omer Balva, 23, is killed by a Hezbollah missile on Israel’s northern border, just a week after he was called up for duty and flew from his home in Maryland

An Israeli reservist with dual citizenship in the US and Israel has been killed by a Hezbollah rocket attack in northern Israel.

Staff Sergeant Omer Balva, 22, was killed on Friday evening by an anti-tank missile attack near the border with Lebanon, where cross-border clashes are increasing. Times of Israel reported.

Balva grew up in Rockville, Maryland and was in the US when he was called up for reserve duty last week. He promptly flew back to Israel to report for duty.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) says it has launched a number of manned and unmanned airstrikes targeting the group’s positions in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks.

The rising tensions in the north came as the IDF gathered forces in southern Israel in preparation for a ground assault on the Gaza Strip, two weeks after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack from the Palestinian enclave.

Story in development, more to come.

Dual Israeli-American citizen Omer Balva, 22, was killed by an anti-tank missile attack near the border with Lebanon on Friday evening after being called up for IDF reserve duty