A Syrian man was killed and two others were injured in an overnight Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Deir Siriane in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

According to the ministry’s statement, the deadly airstrike struck Deir Siriane, located in the Marjaayoun district, late Wednesday night. The incident adds to the growing toll of civilian casualties resulting from ongoing Israeli military operations in the region.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli army also bombed the northern outskirts of Deir Siriane, including areas near the Litani River, and targeted a garage and bulldozers near residential homes, causing further injuries and damage to civilian property.

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating in a brief communique that it had targeted infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance group engaged in ongoing clashes with Israeli forces.

Israel launched its current campaign in Lebanon on October 8, 2023, a day after the war on Gaza escalated. What began as limited cross-border exchanges quickly expanded into a full-scale war by September 2024. According to official Lebanese estimates, more than 4,000 people have been killed and nearly 17,000 injured in the violence so far.

A ceasefire agreement was reached in November 2024, but Israeli airstrikes have continued on an almost daily basis, especially in southern Lebanon, with Tel Aviv citing the presence of Hezbollah fighters as justification.

Under the terms of the truce, Israel was obligated to withdraw all forces from southern Lebanon by January 26, 2025. However, after Israeli noncompliance, the deadline was extended to February 18. Despite this, Israeli forces continue to occupy five border outposts, drawing condemnation from Lebanese officials and international observers.

The latest attack underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and raises concerns about a potential re-escalation of hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border. (ILKHA)