Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon Kills One, Wounds Three Despite Ceasefire

BEIRUT, Sept 20: An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in Tibnin, southern Lebanon, killed one person and wounded three others on Friday, Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced, marking the latest violation of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The ministry described the toll as preliminary, while the Israeli military did not immediately issue a comment.

The strike comes just a day after Israel carried out multiple raids on towns in southern Lebanon; it had previously warned residents to evacuate. On Thursday, the Israeli army said it targeted weapons depots belonging to Hezbollah’s Radwan force, one of the group’s elite units.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the attacks, accusing the international community of remaining silent in the face of Israeli aggression. “The time has come to put an immediate end to these blatant violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” he declared.

The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon warned that such strikes undermine the fragile calm established under the November ceasefire. “We call on Israel to refrain from further attacks and to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory,” UNIFIL said in a statement.

According to Lebanon’s army, Israel has committed more than 4,500 ceasefire violations since November, hampering Beirut’s efforts to rein in Hezbollah. Under US pressure, the government has tasked the military with producing a plan to disarm Hezbollah near the border by the end of the year.

Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said last week that Lebanon’s army intends to fully disarm Hezbollah within three months in areas adjacent to Israel, though analysts warn such efforts could trigger new clashes.

@voice of Malaysia news