A car in flames after being bombed by an Israeli army drone, in Bint Jbeil, on Nov. 18, 2025. (Credit: Photo obtained by our correspondent Mountasser Abdallah)
SOUTH LEBANON — Two people were killed Tuesday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent and the Health Ministry.
This morning, Ali Ibrahim Cheaito, a surveyor employed by the local Federation of Municipalities, was seriously injured in an Israeli drone strike and succumbed shortly afterwards to his injuries. Later in the day, an Israeli drone strike targeted a car in Blida (Marjayoun), killing its driver. The driver's identity could not be immediately established.
Shortly after the strike on Blida, Israeli drones were reported over Safad al-Batikh and Tebneen (Nabatieh), as well as Shehabieh (Sour), according to our correspondent. During the day, Israeli fighter jets flew over Beirut, its southern suburbs, and Kesrouan, according to residents' accounts.
On his way to the Grand Serail
According to a local mukhtar, Cheaito was killed while driving his car in Bint Jbeil, a village located just a few kilometers from the Israeli border in the middle of the border area. He was on his way to the Grand Serail in Beirut to attend a meeting between members of the municipality and U.N. representatives.
The Federation of Municipalities of the Bint Jbeil District issued a statement condemning the deadly strike and Israel's ongoing attacks "targeting essential components of society in the South." It specified that Cheaito was an "administrative official" not involved "in security matters" and that he was targeted "while on his way to work."
According to the Federation, this attack shows that Israel "is pursuing a policy of indiscriminate attacks" that targets "civilians and official institutions" without distinction. It called on the government to "fully assume its responsibilities" to protect public institutions and their employees.
Later, an Israeli army drone fired near workers in the Ghassouna area, on the outskirts of Blida (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent.
On Oct. 30, a municipal employee of Blida, a village a few kilometers from Bint Jbeil along the border, was killed by the Israeli army. Soldiers infiltrated the locality and opened fire on a building, causing widespread outrage among the municipalities in the region and the government.
Israel has been violating the cease-fire, in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, almost daily with strikes, targeted raids, and incursions into Lebanese territory, and still occupies at least six positions along the border.
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