UPDATE 2 - Fresh Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon

ADDS 2 INJURIES, REVISES DECK

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) – Fresh Israeli airstrikes targeted several locations in southern Lebanon on Friday evening, hitting areas near Zahrani and other rural sites despite the ceasefire, according to Lebanon’s official news agency.

The National News Agency (NNA) reported that a series of Israeli strikes targeted villages in the Zahrani district, with explosions heard as far away as the coastal city of Sidon.

Separately, the agency said further airstrikes targeted a valley between al-Mseilih, Tuffahata and al-Najjariyah in southern Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes carried out intense strikes starting around 7:30 pm, hitting the valley between the towns of Zefta and al-Nmeiriyeh, as well as valleys between the towns of Azza and Kafra, NNA said.

The heavy strikes caused electricity outages in the areas of Tuffahata, al-Mseilih, al-Najjariyah, al-Dadawiyah and al-Maamariyah, the agency added.

It said two people sustained minor injuries in strikes that targeted a vehicle showroom and an auto repair workshop in the town of Daddawiyeh, in the Zahrani district.

The Israeli army said in a statement that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon.

Israeli ceasefire violations have killed and wounded hundreds of Lebanese, while Israel continues to occupy five Lebanese hilltops seized during the latest war, in addition to other Lebanese areas it has held for decades.

Israel began military operations against Lebanon in October 2023 and escalated them into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and wounding about 17,000 others.