Israeli drone strike kills 1 in southern Lebanon, breaching ceasefire

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – One person was killed Monday when an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr in Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon, marking a fresh violation of a ceasefire.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement that “an Israeli drone strike hit a car in Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr," with “the initial toll of one citizen killed.”

The strike follows Israel’s escalation of attacks on Lebanon on Saturday after claiming a northern settlement faced a rocket attack from Lebanese territory—an accusation that the Lebanese Hezbollah group denied. Those strikes killed six people and injured 31, according to an Anadolu tally based on official Lebanese sources.

A fragile ceasefire had been in place in Lebanon since November, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities reported over 1,200 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of 100 people and injuries to more than 330.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after it refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.