Israeli drone strike injures 2 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

By Wassim Samih Seifeddine and Lina Altawell

​​​​​​​BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (AA) – Two people were wounded on Monday in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said, marking a new violation of a ceasefire agreement in place since November 2024.

A ministry statement said the strike targeted a vehicle in the town of Briqueh in the Nabatieh district.

According to the state news agency NNA, the drone fired a guided missile at a van on a main road in Briqueh.

The outlet said two Israeli aircraft also flew at medium altitude over the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, particularly above Marjayoun, Khiam and nearby towns.

An Israeli drone also dropped bombs on a poultry farm near a home in the town of Khiam, destroying the facility without causing injuries, the NNA said.

Monday’s strike was the latest Israeli violation of the ceasefire that ended more than a year of cross-border attacks amid the war in Gaza. More than 4,000 people were killed, and 17,000 others were injured.

Israeli media reported that the Israeli military has completed preparations for a possible large-scale attack targeting Hezbollah positions if the Lebanese government and army fail to dismantle the group’s weapons.

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.