Lebanon says 3 killed in Israeli strike on vehicle near Sidon

Lebanon said three people were killed Monday in a strike near Sidon that Israel said targeted Hezbollah operatives, days ahead of a deadline for Lebanon's army to disarm the group near the border.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Monday's strike on a vehicle was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometres (six miles) from the southern coastal city of Sidon and "killed three people who were inside". The health ministry reported the same toll.

Recommended For You

Hearing loss is estimated to cost African economies $27.1 billion annually

Dubai gold prices at record high; 24K reaches Dh550 per gram

Social Cash participates in the 1 Billion Summit

US sends more agents to Minneapolis despite furore over woman's killing

How the concept of wellness is reshaping Dubai real estate

 

An Israeli military statement said the army "struck several Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Sidon".

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

On Sunday, Israeli strikes in south Lebanon near the border killed one person and wounded another, as Israel also said it targeted Hezbollah members.

Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south. 

The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month, also under the committee's auspices.

The committee comprises representatives from Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978, but the UN Security Council voted in August to withdraw the peacekeepers in 2027. 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the goal of the negotiations was to "stop the hostilities, achieve Israel's withdrawal, return prisoners held in Israel and return southern residents to their villages".

On Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the Lebanese army's plans for the first phase of the plan to restrict weapons to the state south of the Litani River were "days away from completion", according to a statement from his office.

"The state is ready to move to the second phase, north of the Litani River, based on the plan prepared by the Lebanese army," he added.

Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.

Israel has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas that it deems strategic.

More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.