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By Rania Abu Shamala
ISTANBUL (AA) – The Israeli army claimed Monday that it had killed two Hezbollah members in airstrikes in southern Lebanon, in the latest violation of a ceasefire deal in place since last year.
A military statement said that Muhammad Ali Hadid, whom the army claimed was a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, was killed in Nabatieh.
The army said another operative was killed in Aita al-Shaab, without identifying him.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli claim.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said early Monday that two people were killed in drone strikes targeting a car in Nabatieh and a motorcycle in Aita al-Shaab.
Tensions have been mounting in southern Lebanon for weeks, with the Israeli army intensifying near-daily air raids inside Lebanese territory despite the ceasefire that has been in place since November 2024.
On Friday, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that Tel Aviv is considering escalating its military operations in Lebanon, allegedly to counter Hezbollah’s efforts to boost its capabilities.
The Israeli army has killed more than 4,000 people and injured nearly 17,000 in its attacks on Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and turned into a full-scale offensive in September 2024.
Under the ceasefire, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon this January, but it only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.