UPDATE – 7 Lebanese injured by Israeli army fire amid ceasefire violations

UPDATES WITH RELEASE OF 4 LEBANESE, ADDS CHANGES

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT (AA) – Seven Lebanese were injured by Israeli army forces on Wednesday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, local media said.

An Israeli drone fired at residents in the town of Majdal Selem, leaving five people injured, the Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

Two more people were injured by Israeli army fire and four others were detained on the outskirts of the Maroun al-Ras town before they were later released, the broadcaster said.

NNA said Israeli army forces also carried out an explosion in Kfarkela town, while a drone dropped bombs in the town of Bani Hayyan.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on the report.

Tensions have escalated as the Israeli army remained in the Lebanese territory after a 60-day deadline for its withdrawal from southern Lebanon passed on Sunday under a ceasefire agreement.

The US, however, said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to an extension of the deadline for the Israeli withdrawal until Feb. 18.

At least 26 people have been killed and 221 injured by Israeli gunfire since Sunday as residents try to return to their villages in southern Lebanon, according to local health authorities.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place since Nov. 27, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on Oct. 8, 2023 and escalated into a full-scale conflict on Sept. 23 last year.

Data from the Lebanese Health Ministry indicates that since Israel’s onslaught against Lebanon began on Oct. 8, 2023, at least 4,080 people have been killed, including women, children and health workers, while 16,753 have been injured.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar