1 killed in Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon despite ceasefire

ISTANBUL

One person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon on Wednesday evening despite a ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media reported.

The strike targeted a car on the Hermel-Qasr Road, the state news agency NNA reported, without giving any further details.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack, claiming that it targeted a significant Hezbollah member in the town of Al-Qasr near the Syrian border, without naming him.

A military statement claimed that the Hezbollah member was involved in the Lebanese group’s weapons transfers.

Israeli drones continued to violate Lebanese airspace with reconnaissance flights over Beirut and its southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Drones also flew over several towns in southern Lebanon.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, ending months of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict last September.

Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,000 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of at least 83 victims and injuries to 280 others.

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, as it still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.