Israeli Fire Kills Two in Southern Lebanon, Ceasefire Holds

Israeli gunfire killed two people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday (June 23), according to Lebanon's Civil Defence and state media. This marks the first reported fatalities from Israeli fire in Lebanon in three days.

A ceasefire between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon has largely held since Sunday (June 21), representing the longest lull yet in the conflict that spilled over from the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire on a group of people near a bulldozer clearing a road in the al-Deir neighbourhood of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it was checking the report.

Iran has insisted that Israel cease fire in Lebanon as part of an interim agreement signed with the United States last week. A joint statement issued on Monday (June 22) at the end of U.S.-Iranian talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar in Switzerland said the parties had agreed to create 'a de-confliction cell' to ensure adherence to the termination of hostilities in Lebanon.

Since Hezbollah opened fire on Israel in support of Iran on March 2, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 4,100 people, including 773 women, children and healthcare workers, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The toll does not specify how many of the dead were combatants.

Israeli attacks have forced some 1.2 million people from their homes in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel's death toll from this round of hostilities with Hezbollah includes at least 32 soldiers and four Israeli civilians.