Ceasefire Violations Continue Amid Rising Cross-Border Tensions

BEIRUT, LEBANON – At least one person was killed and several others wounded on Saturday as Israeli drones launched multiple attacks on towns in southern Lebanon, marking another escalation in near-daily violations of the November ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in the Saf al-Hawa area of Bint Jbeil killed one person and injured two others. Officials warned the death toll could rise. A second strike reportedly followed in the same district.

Shebaa and Chaqra Also Targeted

Earlier in the day, another Israeli drone attack targeted the town of Shebaa, injuring one civilian after a house was struck, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Shebaa is located near the junction of Lebanon, Syria, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, an area frequently caught in regional tensions.

In a separate incident, two more people were wounded in the town of Chaqra, also in the Bint Jbeil District, after another drone attack by Israeli forces.

Pattern of Ceasefire Breaches

The strikes are part of a pattern of recurring Israeli operations in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement established in November 2023, following months of intensified clashes between Israel and the armed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of provocations and violations.

Regional Tensions on the Rise

Saturday’s escalation adds to growing concern about the fragile security situation along the Lebanon-Israel border. International observers and the United Nations have repeatedly called for restraint, warning that continued skirmishes risk igniting a broader conflict in the already volatile region.