A Lebanese national was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the town of Aita al-Shaab, located on the southern Lebanese border, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday. The attack occurred a day after the deadline for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, as outlined in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended last year’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military later confirmed the strike, stating that it had targeted a “Hezbollah operative” in the region who was reportedly involved in handling weaponry.
The deadline for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon was initially set for January 26 but was extended to February 18 after disagreements over enforcement. Israeli officials claimed that Lebanon had not upheld the terms of the ceasefire, while Lebanese authorities accused Israel of deliberately delaying the pullout.
As part of the agreement, some Israeli forces remain in five strategic positions along the border, which Israeli officials argue are necessary for the country’s security.
Hezbollah, which sustained heavy losses during the conflict, maintains that Israel is still occupying Lebanese land and has called on the Lebanese government to ensure the full withdrawal of Israeli troops.
In addition to the fatality in Aita al-Shaab, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that two individuals were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the southern town of Al-Wazzani.
In a separate development, the Lebanese Civil Defence Service reported the recovery of 11 bodies from rubble in four southern villages. These bodies were recovered in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets. Residents, returning to the devastated areas, have been searching for the remains of loved ones following the deadly conflict, which Lebanese authorities estimate has claimed more than 4,000 lives.
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