A Lebanese army soldiers inspects the wreckage of a car that was trageted in an Israli air strike near the southern Lebanese village of Mazraat al Qnaitra. AFP
In an earlier statement, Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in the town of Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali in the Hermel district near the Syrian border, killing two people. It later updated the toll, reporting that another person was killed in an Israeli strike in Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon.
A ceasefire reached in November 2024 that ended Israel’s invasion of Lebanon was meant to halt Israeli strikes and see Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanese territory.
However, Israel has repeatedly violated the truce, killing more than 340 people since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally based on Lebanese health ministry data. Israel also continues to occupy five areas in southern Lebanon in breach of the US-brokered agreement.
Beirut has demanded a full Israeli withdrawal, saying the Lebanese army can only fully deploy in the south once Israeli forces pull out, as stipulated under the ceasefire involving Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) also reported on Thursday that a man wounded in an Israeli strike south of Beirut last week had died of his injuries. It identified him as a member of Lebanon’s General Security agency, saying he was passing through the area while returning from duty in the capital.
The health ministry had said the strike targeted a vehicle on the Jadra–Siblin road in the Shouf district, killing one person and wounding five others.
On Tuesday, Lebanon’s army said one of its soldiers was among those killed in a strike this week, rejecting Israeli claims that he was a Hezbollah operative.
Army chief Rodolphe Haykal told a military meeting that the army was nearing completion of the first phase of its deployment plan.
Under strong US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has pledged to disarm Hezbollah, starting in the south. The army plans to complete the process south of the Litani River, about 30 km (19 miles) from the Israeli border, by the end of the year.
Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons, citing Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations and continued occupation of Lebanese territory. It says it has long defended Lebanon’s southern border and that disarmament would serve only Israel’s interests, effectively handing the country over to Israel.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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