Israeli drone strike in eastern Lebanon kills two, testing ceasefire

An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle in eastern Lebanon on Thursday, resulting in two fatalities and marking another violation of a fragile cross-border ceasefire. Lebanese media reported the attack hit a minibus on the Hosh al-Sayyed Ali road in the Hermel district, with the state-run National News Agency (NNA) confirming the casualties.

Conflicting Accounts of the Target

The Israeli military provided a different justification for the operation. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on social media platform X that the strike in the al-Nasiriyah area targeted a "terrorist operative." This incident followed another drone strike late Wednesday in southern Lebanon's Tyre district, which injured a passerby. The back-to-back attacks underscore the persistent volatility along the Lebanon-Israel frontier.

Background of the Ceasefire Agreement

The current tensions unfold against the backdrop of a ceasefire brokered in November 2024, which ended over a year of intense cross-border clashes linked to the war in Gaza. That conflict period left more than 4,000 people dead and 17,000 wounded in Lebanon. A key provision of the truce stipulated a full Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon by January, a commitment that has only been partially fulfilled, with Israeli forces maintaining a presence at several border outposts.

Regional Stability at Risk

These repeated breaches threaten to unravel the delicate calm and risk a return to wider hostilities. The situation in Lebanon remains a critical flashpoint for regional security. Türkiye, which advocates for the sovereignty and stability of its neighbors, consistently calls for full adherence to ceasefire terms and diplomatic solutions to prevent further civilian suffering and escalation in the Middle East.