Israeli Strikes Kill One in Southern Lebanon Amid Fragile Ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon’s Nabatiyeh region on Thursday, killing one person and wounding eight, Arab News reported. The Israeli military stated it struck Hezbollah “infrastructure” used to coordinate attacks, including tunnels and weapons sites, calling the operation a response to violations of the November 2023 ceasefire.

The truce, brokered after over a year of hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, mandated Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River (30 km from Israel) and a Lebanese army deployment. However, Israel retains troops in five “strategic” border areas, which Lebanon condemns as occupation.

Residents reported panic as explosions rocked Nabatiyeh, 12 km from the border, with schools evacuating children. The strikes follow Wednesday’s Israeli assassination of a Hamas commander in Sidon.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun reiterated calls for international pressure on Israel to withdraw fully, while acknowledging Hezbollah’s disarmament remains a “delicate” issue. The UN-backed ceasefire requires only state forces and peacekeepers in the south, but Hezbollah retains influence.