Israeli Drone Strike Kills Two in Southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed two people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese state media. The militant group Hezbollah condemned the attack as another violation of the truce between the two sides.
Hezbollah Accuses Israel of Ceasefire Breach
Hezbollah accused Israel of a new ceasefire violation after the drone strike, which occurred near the town of Kfar Rumman. The group stated that the Israeli enemy army deliberately targeted Lebanese citizens inspecting their homes, marking the second such incident in less than 48 hours. On Tuesday, two people were killed by Israeli gunfire.
Hezbollah reiterated that the enemy's actions constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire, which it has adhered to thus far, and that it is monitoring and documenting these violations.
Details of the Attack
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that two people were killed when an Israeli drone targeted their vehicle near Kfar Rumman. The Israeli military stated that it targeted two armed Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Ali Al-Taher Ridge near Nabatieh who posed a threat. It later said it also targeted a vehicle carrying suspects crossing the security zone in the same area, posing a threat to Israeli soldiers.
Background of the Conflict
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground offensive that Lebanon says have killed more than 4,100 people.
Ceasefire and Negotiations
On Monday, Iran war mediators Pakistan and Qatar announced that Tehran and Washington had agreed to set up a de-confliction cell to limit flare-ups in Lebanon, following talks in Switzerland on ending the wider Middle East war. The violence in Lebanon has ebbed in recent days, but Israel's defense minister insisted that its troops in the neighboring country's south were not withdrawing.
Under US pressure, Lebanese officials began direct talks in April with Israel in Washington, with a new round of talks having started on Tuesday. Lebanese authorities seek to separate these negotiations from the US-Iran deal.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun noted that the negotiations in Washington are separate from what came out of the meetings in Switzerland between the United States and Iran.
