Sidon: Four people were killed and 13 wounded in separate Israeli strikes on Tuesday in southern and northern Lebanon, said the Lebanese Health Ministry. A ministry statement detailed that one person lost their life when an Israeli drone strike targeted a car in the town of Babliyeh in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon.

According to Anadolu Agency, another statement reported that three people were killed and 13 injured in an Israeli strike targeting a vehicle near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. The Israeli army claimed the strike aimed at a senior figure from the Palestinian group Hamas, although further details were not provided.

Later, the Israeli army announced that it had 'struck and eliminated Hamas member Mehran Mustafa Ba'jur in the area of Tripoli in Lebanon,' alleging that he 'advanced and directed numerous attacks against the IDF (army) and Israeli civilians.' The statement continued, 'Ba'jur was one of Hamas' key commanders in Lebanon, and as part of his role, he spent years establishing Hamas' military capabilities in Lebanon.' There was no immediate comment from Hamas regarding the Israeli claim.

Cross-border warfare between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon escalated into a full-scale war in September 2024. Despite a ceasefire in November, Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming these operations target Hezbollah's activities. Since the ceasefire, Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, resulting in at least 232 deaths and injuries to more than 530 people.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26, but the deadline was extended to February 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.