As the government talks reconstruction, Israel continues its daily strikes on the south

Israel killed another man in southern Lebanon earlier today. Today's victim was Hussein Jihad Dib, killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted his car late Wednesday morning in Bourj Rahal (Sour) near the Mohammad Saad high school, according to our correspondent in the region. He was originally from the village of Shhour and lived in Maarakeh.

Hezbollah acknowledged soon after the killing that Dib had been one of its fighters. Later in the day, the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted a message on X claiming that Dib had been a member of Hezbollah's elite al-Radwan force. He also claimed that Israel had killed about 20 other members of the party over the past month.

Elsewhere, in the early evening, several Israeli vehicles advanced from the occupied Jabal al-Bat site on the edge of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil), advancing a kilometer into Lebanese territory, according to our correspondent in the south.

Pertinent questions

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Despite the cease-fire agreement signed by Israel and Hezbollah on Nov. 27, 2024 , the Israeli army continues its deadly strikes on Lebanon, with more than 300 people killed, according to our tally based on data from the Health Ministry and the U.N. Israeli deadly attacks have also intensified in recent weeks, amid the threat of major military operations in Lebanon and diplomatic tensions over direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials.

This happened as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received a delegation from the Gathering of Residents of Southern Border Localities at the Grand Serail, where he stated that the government "has completed the list of infrastructure and basic service projects in the southern regions" and noted that "reconstruction is a national priority for the entire government."

Developing story

Salam says reconstruction of the south is 'national priority' as government finalizes project list

'The state must file a complaint with the Security Council'

Also on Wednesday, MP Hani Kobeissi of the Amal movement called on "the state to assume its responsibilities in the face of the daily assassinations carried out by the Zionist enemy in the south," stressing "the need to adopt a comprehensive national stance that expresses the rejection of repeated aggression against Lebanese civilians," according to the official National News Agency (NNA).

"Israel continues to kill innocent civilians in towns and villages with the brutal determination to commit crimes, the whole world watches and no one does anything," he lamented, accusing Israel of "crimes against humanity." "The state must take responsibility and file a complaint with the U.N. Security Council over Israel's daily assassinations," he insisted, urging the authorities to assume their full responsibility at the political level, not just the military.

Some analysis

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Candice Ardell, spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), told the NNA that "the international forces cooperate closely with the Lebanese Army on a daily basis." "The work we do together is important and demanding, and over the years, we have built solid and fruitful relationships," she added. The UNIFIL mandate, present in southern Lebanon since 1978, was renewed "one last time" last August and will expire at the end of 2026.

In the morning, an Israeli drone fired a stun grenade between Wata al-Khiam and Wadi al-Assafir, as a team from the South Council was inspecting destroyed homes, accompanied by the Lebanese Army. No injuries were reported. Late in the day, the Israeli army fired a medium automatic weapon near the locality of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Elsewhere, State Security announced it had arrested a Palestinian for "arms trafficking and repeated celebratory gunfire" in the region.