Lebanon says 3 civilians injured in Israeli drone strike despite ceasefire

By Wassim Seifeddine and Betul Yilmaz

BEIRUT / ISTANBUL (AA) – Three civilians were injured in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Health Ministry said.

A statement by the ministry’s Emergency Operations Center said the injuries occurred when an Israeli drone hit a motorcycle on Mansouri-Majdal Zoun road in the Tyre district.

A fragile ceasefire has 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 have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of nearly 200 people and the injuries of around 500 others.

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 Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.