Beirut, Lebanon – Two Lebanese citizens were killed Tuesday evening in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building in southern Lebanon. This constitutes a new violation of the ceasefire agreement in effect since late November, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.
The agency reported that Israeli aircraft carried out the strike on a house in the town of Khirbet Selm, in the Bint Jbeil district. The attack resulted in the deaths of two people and caused significant material damage to the targeted building and neighboring homes. The identities of the victims were not immediately known, while rescue and civil defense teams began their work at the scene. Tensions and heightened security prevailed in the area.
This development comes amid a continuing escalation on Lebanon’s southern border, despite the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on November 27. Lebanese authorities accuse Israel of committing thousands of violations since the agreement came into force, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, as well as widespread damage to property and infrastructure.
On October 8, 2023, Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Lebanon, which later escalated into a full-scale war on September 23, 2024. According to official statistics, the war resulted in over 4,000 deaths and approximately 17,000 injuries. The military operations also caused a massive displacement of nearly 1.4 million people from border villages and towns, in one of the largest waves of displacement Lebanon has witnessed in its modern history.
Lebanese authorities maintain that the continued Israeli raids and violations undermine the chances of consolidating the ceasefire and threaten a return to military escalation. They have called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease its violations. They insist on full adherence to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the protection of civilians, and respect for Lebanese sovereignty.
