2 killed in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT, / JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

Two people were killed Thursday in separate Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon in the latest violations of a ceasefire reached last November, the Health Ministry said.

The ministry’s Emergency Operations Center said a man was killed in a drone strike that targeted the Ali al-Taher forest in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

The state news agency NNA said the victim was a municipal employee who was killed while supplying water to homes in the area.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack, claiming that it targeted an operative of Hezbollah who they said was trying to rebuild a site used for the group’s fire control and defense.

There was no comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli claim.

Later, a person was killed by Israeli army gunfire in the town of Kfarkela, according to the Emergency Operations Center, which did not provide additional information.

Kfarkela residents staged a protest "to denounce Israel's continued shooting at anyone moving within the town," NNA reported.

Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’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 at least 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.