Israeli drone strikes kill at least two, injure others in southern Lebanon

BEIRUT — The Israeli army carried out a series of drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least two people and injuring several others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and local sources cited by L'Orient Today regional correspondent.

In the morning, an Israeli drone targeted a van traveling through Wadi Hojeir (Sour district), a strategic valley connecting several villages in southern Lebanon. One person was killed and another injured, the Health Ministry said. The village of Markaba (Marjayoun) later identified the person killed as Hussein Abderrahim Younes. The Israeli military said it had eliminated “a terrorist from Hezbollah’s al-Radwan force,” but did not name the individual.

Second Israeli drone strike, machine-gun fire and bulldozing operation

Hours later, another drone strike targeted a motorcycle in the town of Hanine (Bint Jbeil). The rider, identified as Ali Mohammad Abbas by local sources, died after being wounded in the attack. The Lebanese Ministry statement confirmed the death of a Lebanese "citizen." Meanwile, the Israeli military confirmed responsibility for the strike, claiming that it had targeted a Hezbollah member.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces fired machine guns near the village of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), and an Israeli bulldozer carried out work inside Lebanese territory near the concrete wall in the area of Hadab-Khallet Wardeh, close to Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), according to witness accounts.

Israeli strikes hit rescue center, other areas overnight

Overnight, Israeli drone strikes hit several locations across the Sour and Bint Jbeil districts. In the Wadi Tannour area, between Ramieh and Beit Lif, three missiles were fired shortly after 10 p.m., with no immediate reports of casualties. Israeli flares were also launched over Houla, in the Marjayoun district.

After midnight, an Israeli drone struck a facility used by the Islamic Mission Scouts (al-Rissala), a rescue group affiliated with the Amal movement, in the village of Tayr Harfa, Sour district. The Health Ministry condemned the strike, calling it "a violation of all norms and international law."

On X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee alleged the Israeli air force had "attacked Hezbollah infrastructure" in southern Lebanon, accusing the group of "exploiting civilian facilities." He added that the army "will act against any attempt by Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities."

Teen dies from previous day’s Israeli strike

Separately, a second person wounded in an Israeli strike Tuesday in the town of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) succumbed of his injuries. The victim, identified as 17-year-old Mohammad Baydoun, was traveling in a van at the time of the attack. The Israeli army had previously claimed the strike targeted a "commander in Hezbollah’s special operations division."

The strikes mark a continuation of near-daily Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, despite a cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah that took effect on Nov. 27, 2023. According to the United Nations, Israeli strikes have killed at least 71 civilians in Lebanon since the cease-fire began. L'Orient Today's tally puts the total number of people killed — including Hezbollah members and civilians — at 138.

By the end of the day, the Israeli military had escalated attacks on several southern villages, striking prefabricated homes in Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), Zalloutiyeh (Sour), Shihine (Sour), and Boustane (Sour).