UPDATES WITH ISRAELI CONFIRMATION
By Ahmed Asmar and Mohammad Sio
ANKARA (AA) – Two people were injured in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media said.
The attack targeted a car near a landfill south of a site of the UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) in the Ras al-Naqoura area of Tyre district, the state news agency NNA reported.
NNA said two brothers who were collecting scrap metal were injured in the attack and were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Lebanese troops and civilians attempted to reach the targeted site, but Israeli drones launched another strike to prevent access, the broadcaster said.
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed that it had identified “suspects” allegedly transferring weapons to vehicles in Naqoura, saying that it carried out the strike to “remove the threat.”
The attack came as Israeli drones violated Lebanese airspace and flew at low altitude over the towns of Naqoura, Khiyam, Borj El-Mlouk, and Marjayoun Plain.
An Israeli drone also dropped a sound bomb on a road between Tall Al-Nahas and Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, NNA said.
According to the news agency, Israeli forces also opened fire towards the Al-Jidar and Darb Al-Hawrat areas southeast of Meiss El-Jabal in southern Lebanon as residents were inspecting their damaged homes.”
No injuries were reported.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since Nov. 27, ending months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict last September.
Lebanese authorities have reported over 1,000 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the deaths of at least 83 victims and injuries to over 280 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.