4 Lebanese injured by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon amid tension

By Naim Berjawi and Mohammad Sio

BEIRUT (AA) – Four Lebanese, including a soldier, were injured by Israeli army fire in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, the army said.

A military statement said that Israeli forces opened fire on army personnel and citizens on the Yaroun-Maroun al-Ras Road in southern Lebanon.

According to the statement, one soldier and three civilians were injured in the attack, which occurred as army forces escorted civilians returning to their border villages.

Tension escalated as the Israeli army remained in the Lebanese territory after a 60-day deadline for its withdrawal from southern Lebanon passed on Sunday under a ceasefire agreement.

The US, however, said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to an extension of the deadline for the Israeli withdrawal until Feb. 18.

At least 26 people were killed and 160 others injured by Israeli gunfire since Sunday as residents tried to return to their villages in southern Lebanon, according to local health authorities.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place since Nov. 27, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and the Hezbollah group that began on Oct. 8, 2023, and escalated into a full-scale conflict on Sept. 23 last year.

Data from the Lebanese Health Ministry indicates that since Israel’s onslaught against Lebanon began on Oct. 8, 2023, at least 4,080 people have been killed, including women, children and health workers, while 16,753 have been injured.