Israeli drone strike targeting a motorcycle in Beit Lif on July 7, 2025. (Photo sent to L'Orient Today by residents)
BEIRUT — The Israeli army killed two people in southern Lebanon on Monday in two separate drone strikes on Sour and Bint Jbeil districts, while in the capital, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack announced his satisfaction with the Lebanese government's response to a U.S. roadmap for Hezbollah's disarmament.
The first deadly drone strike hit a van driving in the Sour district village of Deir Kifa, killing a man named Ali Haidar and injuring several other people. A second drone strike about two hours later hit a moped in the village of Beit Lif, Bint Jbeil district, killing a man name hadi Rameh.
No details have yet been provided about the two victims and the Israeli army has not announced the attacks.
An Israeli drone dropped stun grenades on the southernmost coastal town of Naqoura as well as next to a destroyed house on the outskirts of the village of Dhaira, also in Sour district. The Israeli army also dropped two incendiary bombs on the woods near Shihine, also in Sour district, starting a fire there.
As Israeli attack against Lebanon multiplied, despite an ostensible cease-fire in effect since November 2024, Barrack insisted he was "certain that Israel wants peace with Lebanon, but the way to achieve it represents a challenge."
On the eve of his arrival in Beirut, Israel bombed several sites across the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and in southern Lebanon, hitting almost entirely areas north of the Litani River. According to the Ministry of Health and L'Orient Today's correspondent in southern Lebanon, the toll of these strikes stands at ten injured, including a young girl who was admitted to intensive care.
Israel has killed at least 196 people since agreeing to the cease-fire with Hezbollah, via Lebanese authorities, in November, according to L'Orient Today's count.
Nocturnal incursion in South Lebanon
In the early hours of Monday morning, several Israeli bulldozers, accompanied by Merkava tanks, invaded the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, advancing over 200 meters and reaching the main road near the area known as the "Gate of Fatima."
Israeli troops dug out a dirt road and erected earth roadblocks, despite the Lebanese Army being deployed on site. The Israeli troops then advanced another 300 meters, passing Shellhoub station, where they razed already destroyed houses inside the village.
Parallel to this invasion, an Israeli unit also advanced into the Khalleh Warda area to the outskirts of the village of Aita al-Shaab in Bint Jbeil.
L'Orient Today's correspondent indicated that this type of incursion, occurring near the border, was not unusual, even since the cease-fire came into effect, and that Israeli soldiers had since withdrawn from both villages. It's possible that Israeli troops intended to hinder access for military vehicles on the Lebanese side and destroy potential hiding places.
Reporting contributed by L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South, Muntasser Abdallah.
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