Israeli drone strike kills 1, injures 3 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – One person was killed and three others were injured in a new Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Health Ministry said.

A statement by the ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the casualties occurred in the strike that targeted the town of Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil district.

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 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.