Beirut: Three people were killed on Thursday in two Israeli airstrikes in eastern and southern Lebanon, marking new violations of a ceasefire agreement in place since last year, Lebanese authorities said. The Health Ministry reported that two individuals lost their lives when an Israeli drone targeted a minibus in eastern Lebanon.

According to Anadolu Agency, the state news agency NNA detailed that the drone struck the minibus on the Hosh al-Sayyed Ali road within the Hermel district. Additionally, a third casualty was reported following an Israeli strike in the Majdal Selm town of the Marjayoun district in southern Lebanon.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on the US social media platform X that the strike in al-Nasiriyah in eastern Lebanon was aimed at Hussein Mahmoud Mershed Al-Jawhari, who was identified as 'a prominent operative' in the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Furthermore, the Israeli army claimed responsibility for striking a Hezbollah member in the Al-Jumayjimah area in southern Lebanon.

The NNA also reported an Israeli drone attack on a vehicle in the Safad El-Battikh town in the Bint Jbeil district, resulting in injuries to one person. Before retreating towards the southeast, several Israeli warplanes were observed flying at high altitudes over Baalbek city and its surrounding towns. Drones were similarly reported over Beirut's southern suburbs and neighboring areas.

The strikes on Thursday followed an incident the previous night, where an Israeli drone injured a passerby while targeting a car in the town of Jannata in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon. The recent escalation occurs despite the ceasefire established between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, after over a year of cross-border violence linked to the Gaza conflict. The ceasefire agreement had stipulated an Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon by January; however, Israel continues to maintain a presence at five border outposts.