Israeli Drone Strike Kills One in Southern Lebanon in Latest Ceasefire Violation

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA), citing local authorities, reported that an Israeli drone fired four missiles at a vehicle between the villages of Aitaroun and Ainata in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, killing its sole occupant.

An unnamed Lebanese security source identified the person killed in the Israeli strike as a member of the Hezbollah resistance movement. He named the victim as Hadi Ali Khnafer from the village of Ainata.

The strike came a day after a Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting his vehicle in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh district.

The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed in a statement that “an Israeli drone strike on the al-Zahrani road in the Nabatieh district resulted in the death of one person” on Friday.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that civil defense teams recovered the body from the targeted car along the Sidon-Tyre coastal road.

NNA identified the victim as Mohammad Shehadeh, a journalist, photojournalist, and director of the media platform Hawana Lebanon.

Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of war and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27.

Since then, Israeli forces have been launching attacks on Lebanon, including airstrikes, in breach of the ceasefire.

On January 27, Lebanon announced its decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until February 18.

However, Israel continues to maintain its occupation of five significant regions in southern Lebanon, namely Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all situated near the border.

Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take “all necessary measures” to remove the occupying troops from the nation.