An Israeli airstrike on a construction vehicle in southern Lebanon resulted in the death of a man, according to reports from the Lebanese health ministry. The attack took place in the town of Deir Kifa, located within the Tyre district, where the ministry referred to the victim as a “martyr” in its statement.
Further details emerged from Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, which reported that the strike was carried out by a drone. The unmanned aerial vehicle reportedly targeted an excavator on the Kfar Dounine-Deir Kifa road, hitting it with two missiles.
The Israeli military has acknowledged that it is investigating the reports but has yet to provide a detailed comment on the incident.
This attack is part of an ongoing pattern, as Israel has continued its airstrikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire established in November. That truce concluded more than a year of hostilities with the militant group Hezbollah, which had seen two months of intense conflict. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces were expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah committed to dismantling its military presence in the region.
In response to pressure from the United States and concerns over potential escalation, the Lebanese government has taken steps to initiate the disarmament of Hezbollah, a move met with strong opposition from the militant group and its allies.
Just a day prior to the Deir Kifa strike, Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least one death and seven injuries. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned these attacks, asserting that they aimed at “civilian facilities” and constituted a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Israel typically defends its military actions by claiming they target Hezbollah fighters and related infrastructure. The ongoing conflict took a new turn in October 2023, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to support Hamas amid the Gaza war. This development set off a series of border exchanges that intensified, ultimately leading to renewed open warfare in September 2024.
