Israeli Airstrike Kills Two in Southern Lebanon

Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle has resulted in the deaths of two individuals in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Al Jazeera correspondents reported that the attack occurred on Sunday in the Ayn al-Mizrab area, located north of Bint Jbeil. The targeted vehicle was destroyed, and nearby buildings were damaged.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that the strike aimed at a member of Hezbollah, accusing the Lebanese group of breaching a ceasefire established in November 2024. Since the signing of the ceasefire, Israel has conducted repeated strikes on Lebanon, despite the agreement that aimed to end a year-long conflict that devastated both Lebanon and Hezbollah's leadership.

Additionally, Israel continues to occupy five positions on the Lebanese side of the border. Israeli attacks have led to the deaths of over 300 individuals in Lebanon since the ceasefire, including at least 127 civilians. Israel, backed by the United States, expects Hezbollah to disarm. However, the Lebanese group has refused to do so, putting the Lebanese government and army in a difficult position of attempting to meet Israel and the U.S.'s expectations while avoiding military confrontation with Hezbollah, which remains strong despite its losses.

The Lebanese government is expected to convene on Tuesday to discuss the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah, beginning in southern Lebanon. Previously, a deadline was set for the end of 2025 to achieve disarmament before continuing the process throughout the country. However, this plan has been rejected by Hezbollah.

A monitoring committee for the ceasefire, which includes peacekeepers from Lebanon, Israel, France, the United States, and the United Nations, is scheduled to meet next week. Emphasizing Israel's inflexible stance, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that the Lebanese government’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah are "far from sufficient" and that the group aims to rearm "with Iranian support."