Israeli Strike Kills Two in Southern Lebanon; Hezbollah Alleges Ceasefire Breach
The Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle near the town of Kfar Rumman in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing two people. The attack marks the latest incident in a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said it struck two armed Hezbollah fighters on the Ali al-Taher Ridge near Nabatieh who posed a threat. It later targeted a vehicle carrying suspects crossing the security zone in the same area. Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the ceasefire for the second time in 48 hours, following a previous incident where two people died from Israeli gunfire.
In a statement, Hezbollah said the Israeli actions constitute a 'blatant violation' of the ceasefire to which it has adhered so far, and that it is monitoring and documenting these violations. The group drew Lebanon into the conflict in March with rocket fire at Israel amid broader regional tensions.
The conflict has killed more than 4,100 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. Violence has ebbed in recent days, but Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz insisted that Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, stating, 'We have announced that in any case we are not withdrawing.'
Diplomatic efforts continue. Iran war mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the United States and Iran agreed to set up a de-confliction cell after talks in Switzerland to limit flare-ups in Lebanon. Lebanese officials have also engaged in direct talks with Israel in Washington, separate from the US-Iran negotiations.
