Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon kill 1, injure another

ISTANBUL

At least one person was killed and another injured Thursday in Israeli strikes targeting several towns in southern Lebanon, marking new violations of a ceasefire agreement.

An Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle on Nabatieh al-Fawqa Road in Nabatieh district, killing one person, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

Another drone strike injured one person when it hit a motorcycle in the town of Deir Seryan in Marjayoun district, the agency said earlier.

Israeli warplanes also carried out three airstrikes on the town of Tebnine, two strikes on the Zaghrine area in Mount Rayhan in Jezzine district, and another strike on the outskirts of Al-Ayshiyah, also in Jezzine.

The agency added that Israeli warplanes continued flying at low altitude over the Zahrani area in Nabatieh district and over Ghaziyeh in the Sidon district.

Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target the Hezbollah group’s activities despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon reached last November. The truce ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of over 200 people and injuries to more than 500 since last November.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply.

Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.