Israeli drone strikes injure 2 in southern Lebanon despite framework agreement

Two people were injured Friday in Israeli drone strikes targeting a vehicle in Lebanon’s southern Tyre district, in what Lebanese authorities described as another violation of the framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

The strikes targeted the vehicle overnight in the town of Siddiqin, injuring two people, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.

In a separate incident, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade in the town of Safad al-Battikh in Bint Jbeil district, with no injuries reported.

Another Israeli drone also dropped a stun grenade in the town of Mansouri in Tyre district, NNA said.

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In a statement, the military said Thursday’s strikes targeted sites in the areas of Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounine and Braachit. It claimed the facilities were used by Hezbollah to prepare attacks against Israeli forces operating in what it described as a “security zone.”

The army said the strikes were carried out in response to what it called Hezbollah’s continued violations of the ceasefire agreement and attacks on Israeli forces.

It added that Israeli soldiers identified overnight a Hezbollah cell transporting weapons in a truck near the “security zone” in southern Lebanon and struck the vehicle.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Israel has occupied parts of southern Lebanon for years, some for decades, and expanded its control during its latest offensive.

On June 26, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-brokered framework agreement providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two “pilot areas” that were not publicly identified.

The agreement does not set a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal. Instead, it links further withdrawals to the Lebanese army assuming full security control in evacuated areas and the disarmament of armed groups, particularly Hezbollah.

On June 21, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue holding what he called a “security zone” in southern Lebanon despite a US-Iran agreement that entered into force on June 18 and includes guarantees for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Since March 2, Israel has been conducting a military offensive in Lebanon that has killed at least 4,298 people, injured 12,196 others and displaced more than 1 million, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.