UPDATE 3 - Israeli airstrikes kill 2 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

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By Omar Alothmani, Mohammad Sio and Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Two people were killed Saturday in separate Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement in place since November 2024.

An Israeli drone strike killed one person as it targeted a vehicle on the Harouf-Jibchit road in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon, the NNA state news agency reported.​​​​​​​

The strike was near an elementary school in Harouf, it added.

The Health Ministry said one person was killed and another injured in the attack.

The Israeli army claimed that it had killed Hezbollah commander Zayn al-Abidin Fatouni in the attack. A statement said Fatouni was responsible for the anti-tank missile system within Hezbollah’s Radwan Force unit.

Later, another person was killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Al-Qlailah in Tyre, said NNA.

Southern Lebanon, particularly the western sector, saw intensive Israeli drone flights at low altitude above Tyre and surrounding areas, including Qasmiyeh and Abu Al-Soud north of Tyre.

Two Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed three people Friday, and wounded two others when the military targeted two vehicles.

Israel has repeatedly launched airstrikes in Lebanon on claims of targeting Hezbollah infrastructure despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in November 2024.

Under the terms of the truce, the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025. But it has only partially pulled out troops and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.