Israeli Air Strike in Southern Lebanon Kills Four, Deepens Strain on Fragile Truce:

At least four people were killed and three others injured in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, the country’s Ministry of Public Health said on Saturday. The attack targeted the town of Kfarsir in the Nabatieh district, raising fears of renewed conflict along the tense border region. According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), the strike occurred around 2:15 pm local time (16:15 GMT) and involved a guided missile that hit a civilian car. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, but officials confirmed multiple fatalities. Tensions Flare Despite Truce The strike came just a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of escalating attacks in response to his recent offer to hold talks aimed at a more permanent end to hostilities. The current truce between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States in November 2024, was meant to end more than a year of cross-border clashes that began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel. In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones at Israeli positions along the border, sparking months of fighting. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has maintained troops in five areas of southern Lebanon and continued near-daily air raids, which Lebanese officials say repeatedly violate the truce. Israel insists its strikes target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure, but civilians, journalists, and first responders have also been killed. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces have killed at least 111 civilians in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect. Mutual Accusations President Aoun said his proposal for peace talks seeks to “end the Israeli occupation” and stabilize the border once and for all. Israel, however, has accused Lebanon of failing to uphold its side of the ceasefire by not restraining or disarming Hezbollah. Hezbollah, one of the most powerful armed groups in the region, has rejected any calls to disarm, arguing that its weapons are necessary for Lebanon’s defense. In a sign of growing frustration, Aoun earlier this week ordered the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront any new Israeli incursion into the south. His directive came just hours after Israeli soldiers entered the border town of Blida, where they reportedly stormed the town hall and killed municipal worker Ibrahim Salameh, who was sleeping inside. Israel’s military later said its troops were responding to an “immediate threat” from Hezbollah but provided no evidence to support the claim. Mounting Pressure on the Ceasefire Saturday’s deadly strike adds to fears that the fragile truce could collapse entirely. Residents in southern Lebanon say they live in constant fear of air raids, despite the ceasefire being in place for nearly a year. Regional analysts warn that unless both sides recommit to the agreement — including Israel’s withdrawal from occupied areas and greater control over Hezbollah’s operations — the situation could easily spiral back into full-scale conflict. For now, Lebanon mourns yet another loss, as calls grow louder for international intervention to restore calm along the volatile border.

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