The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for a drone strike in southern Lebanon, alleging that it killed two Hezbollah operatives. The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday in the Nabatieh Governorate.
According to a statement released by the Israeli military, the strike targeted individuals it accused of attempting to “rehabilitate military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.” The statement further asserted that the individuals were operating in the Jmeijmeh area of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has not yet issued an official response to the Israeli claims. The Lebanese government has repeatedly called for a cessation of Israeli military actions within its borders, a plea that has so far gone unanswered.
Earlier on Sunday, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that an Israeli strike targeted a vehicle on the Safad al-Batikh-Jmeijmeh road, resulting in the deaths of two civilians. Reports from local media outlets indicated that the drone strike targeted a parked vehicle in the town of Breqa, also located in the Nabatieh Governorate.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing discussions regarding Hezbollah’s arsenal. Some Israeli media outlets have reported that the Israeli military is finalizing plans for a large-scale offensive against Hezbollah positions, contingent on the Lebanese government and military failing to disarm the group.
The Lebanese cabinet is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss the progress made by the army in addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons. Additionally, the ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes representatives from Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France, and United Nations peacekeeping forces, is expected to meet this week.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged on Sunday that the Lebanese government and army have made efforts to disarm Hezbollah, but deemed them “far from sufficient,” citing Hezbollah’s alleged efforts to rearm and rebuild its capabilities with Iranian support. Israel has previously expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the Lebanese army’s actions and accused Hezbollah of restoring its military strength.
Hezbollah has consistently rejected calls to disarm, insisting that Israel must first adhere to the ceasefire agreement, particularly regarding the cessation of strikes and the withdrawal of its forces from occupied territories.
