Israeli strike kills Syrian man, injures 2 others in southern Lebanon

By Wassim Samih Seifeddine and Betul Yilmaz

BEIRUT / ISTANBUL (AA) – One Syrian man was killed, and two others were injured in an overnight Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

According to the statement, the strike targeted the town of Deir Siriane in the Marjaayoun district on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of a Syrian citizen and two injuries.

According to state news agency NNA, the Israeli army on Wednesday also targeted the northern outskirts of Deir Siriane, near the Litani River, and a garage and bulldozers near residential homes in the town, causing several injuries.

In a military statement, the Israeli army claimed to have struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the attacks.

Israel launched military operations in Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring around 17,000.

A ceasefire was reached in November, but Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target activities of the Hezbollah group.

Under the truce, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.