Beirut: Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday evening despite a ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media reported. Fighter jets struck the towns of Az-Zrariyah and Kfar Melki in Sidon province and Ansar and Ezza towns in Nabatieh, the state news agency NNA reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army confirmed the strikes, stating that its jets targeted what it described as Hezbollah military sites containing rockets, missile launchers, and weapons storage facilities in these areas. However, there was no immediate information available regarding injuries or damage resulting from these strikes, and Hezbollah has not commented on the Israeli claims.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November, which concluded months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, escalating into a full-scale conflict in September. Despite the ceasefire, Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, which have included the deaths of at least 217 victims and injuries to more than 500 individuals.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, but the deadline was extended to February 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.