Beirut: At least seven people were killed and 40 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, as reported by an Anadolu tally based on official Lebanese sources. The attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between the two nations.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that an Israeli airstrike in the town of Touline in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of five people, including a child, and left 11 others injured. Additionally, in the towns of Housh al-Sayyid and Saraain in the Baalbek-Hermel governorate of eastern Lebanon, six people were reported injured following Israeli airstrikes.
An Israeli drone strike targeted a parking area in the al-Raml neighborhood of Tyre, causing injuries to four individuals on Saturday evening, as per an initial toll from the Health Ministry. The ministry also reported that a strike on the town of Yahmor al-Shaqif in the Nabatieh district injured one person, while two others sustained injuries in a strike on Kfarkela.
The airstrikes were a response to Israel's claim that its settlement of Metula had been targeted by a rocket attack originating from Lebanon, leading Israeli forces to launch retaliatory strikes on several villages and towns in southern Lebanon. This incident marked the first rocket attack since a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel had been established nearly four months ago, although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Metula.
A ceasefire had been in place in Lebanon since November, following months of cross-border conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, which intensified into a full-scale conflict in September. Lebanese authorities have reported around 1,100 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, resulting in at least 85 deaths and injuries to more than 280 individuals.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was expected to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26. However, the deadline was extended to February 18 after Israel refused to comply, and it continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.