A new Israeli drone strike on the southern Lebanese town of Ain Qana has killed one civilian, marking yet another breach of the November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation regime.

According to local reports, the strike occurred late Monday, as Israeli drones and reconnaissance aircraft carried out extensive flights over Lebanese territory, including Beirut and its Southern Suburb, at unusually low altitudes. Witnesses said drones were seen circling near the presidential palace in Baabda, in what observers described as the most aggressive aerial activity over the capital since the ceasefire came into effect nearly a year ago.

On October 20, Israeli warplanes launched air raids on the outskirts of Jarmaq and al-Mahmoudiyah, while occupation forces stationed at the Al-Summaqah outpost opened fire toward the Kfar Shuba hills, later shelling the same area with artillery. These repeated attacks have intensified fears of a new escalation across Lebanon’s southern frontier.

Humanitarian organizations report that since the ceasefire agreement was signed, more than 270 Lebanese civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured in Israeli air and drone strikes. Many of the attacks have struck residential areas, agricultural lands, and vital infrastructure across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the southern districts of Beirut.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) strongly condemned the latest attacks, warning that Israel’s repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty could undermine the fragile ceasefire and destabilize the entire region.

In a statement issued earlier this month, UNIFIL denounced what it described as a “serious violation of international agreements”, after Israeli forces carried out a drone grenade attack on UN peacekeepers near Kfar Kila, a border town in southern Lebanon. One peacekeeper sustained light injuries and received immediate medical care.

UNIFIL said the incident marked the second attack on its personnel in October alone, noting that two drones had been observed flying near the UN position before one of them dropped the grenade. The force underscored that such assaults constitute a direct breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which forms the basis of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire and mandates UN peacekeeping operations along the border.

“These repeated attacks not only endanger UN personnel but also threaten the stability of southern Lebanon,” a UNIFIL spokesperson said, calling on Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty and international humanitarian law.

Analysts warn that the ongoing Israeli strikes risk igniting a wider confrontation, particularly as tensions rise along Lebanon’s southern frontier amid the ongoing Gaza war. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli reconnaissance flights, drone incursions, and artillery fire have become a near-daily occurrence, drawing strong condemnation from Beirut.

Lebanese officials have urged the international community to take a firm stance against Israeli aggression, arguing that continued violations undermine regional peace and constitute acts of war under international law.

As Ain Qana mourns another civilian victim, the calls for accountability and international intervention grow louder. For many in Lebanon, Israel’s repeated attacks serve as a stark reminder that the so-called ceasefire has failed to bring genuine security or stability to the country’s south — where civilians continue to bear the brunt of occupation violence. (ILKHA)