Israeli Airstrikes Kill Two in Lebanon Amid UN Reports of Drone Attack

Israeli Airstrikes in Bekaa Valley

Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of two individuals in Lebanon, as reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. This marks another violation of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. In a statement made on Friday, the Ministry of Public Health indicated that an "attack by the Israeli enemy" targeting a vehicle in Mansuri, southern Lebanon, led to one fatality.

The ministry also announced that a strike on the southern city of Mayfadun resulted in another death the previous night. Israel claimed that the victim of this attack was a member of Hezbollah who allegedly "participated in efforts to restore Hezbollah's infrastructure in the Zawtar al-Sharqiyah area."

The Israeli military conducted several strikes in the Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon, north of the Litani River, on Thursday after issuing evacuation warnings. Meanwhile, United Nations peacekeeping forces deployed in southern Lebanon submitted a ceasefire request to the Israeli military on Friday after a drone "launched a grenade" at their troops. It remains unclear whether the grenade detonated.

UNIFIL stated that such activities jeopardize both civilians and peacekeepers, constituting a violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. UNIFIL was established in 1978 following the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon and saw its mandate significantly expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, as per resolution 1701. Over 10,000 peacekeepers have been deployed to monitor the cessation of hostilities and support the presence of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River.

The UN Security Council decided in August to conclude UNIFIL's mandate on December 31, 2026, followed by a one-year plan for a gradual withdrawal of forces. Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire with Hezbollah, effective since November 2024, resulting in hundreds of casualties, while Israeli forces remain on five Lebanese hills captured during the last war, in addition to other areas occupied for decades.

Lebanon faces increasing pressure from the U.S. and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, and its leaders fear that Israel may dramatically escalate attacks throughout the affected country to prompt Lebanese leaders to more swiftly confiscate Hezbollah's arsenal.