The official was "seriously wounded and a companion was also injured" in the strike in the city of Nabatiyeh, some way from the border region that has seen almost daily exchanges of fire since the Israel-Hamas war broke out last October, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the vehicle had caught fire after it was hit by missile fired by an Israeli drone as it entered Nabatiyeh at around 4:15 pm (1415 GMT).

The Lebanese army closed off the main road where the strike took place, an AFP photographer reported.

The Israeli military said it was "examining reports" of the strike, when asked by AFP for comment.

Earlier, Hezbollah said it had targeted a brigade headquarters in the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona in the latest exchanges between the two sides.

Since the day after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, which sparked the Gaza war, Hezbollah has targeted Israeli army positions along on the border in support of the Palestinian Islamist movement.

Israel has repeatedly bombarded Lebanese border villages, killing 227 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also 27 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, 15 people have been killed in the northern border area including nine soldiers and six civilians, according to the Israeli army.