29-1-2025 (BEIRUT) Five individuals sustained injuries following an Israeli drone strike on the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Selm on Wednesday, marking the latest incident in a series of military exchanges that threaten to undermine the recently established ceasefire agreement.
The attack follows a more severe incident on Tuesday evening when Israeli airstrikes struck Nabatieh, a major urban centre in southern Lebanon, resulting in 24 casualties. The Israeli military justified the operation, claiming their forces targeted Hezbollah vehicles allegedly transporting weapons near the town’s outskirts.
These incidents have sparked strong reactions from Lebanese officials. Senior Hezbollah figure Mohammad Raad defended Lebanon’s position, describing the right to resist Israeli attacks as “sacred and legitimate”. Meanwhile, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has sought diplomatic intervention, appealing to US General Jasper Jeffers, who chairs the ceasefire monitoring committee, to compel Israel to honour its commitments under international law.
The violence represents a significant challenge to the ceasefire agreement reached between Hezbollah and Israel in late November, which aimed to halt the devastating conflict that erupted in the wake of the 2023 Gaza war. The United States recently announced an extension of the agreement until 18 February, pushing back the original 26 January deadline for Israeli troop withdrawal.
The situation has taken a particularly grim turn in recent days, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting that Israeli forces killed at least 24 people and wounded 141 others in southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday. These casualties occurred as thousands of Lebanese civilians attempted to return to their homes, defying Israeli military restrictions in the region.
