BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Health Ministry on Saturday said that an Israeli airstrike on the southern town of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a young girl, despite a ceasefire.
In its statement, the ministry said the “Israeli enemy raid” on Saksakiyeh, located in the Sidon district, left seven people dead, among them a girl, and injured 15 others, including three children.
The incident adds to ongoing tensions despite the ceasefire agreement aimed at reducing hostilities between the two sides.
The young girl, who was previously reported as injured, died at the Nabih Berri Governmental University Hospital in Nabatieh, after she and her father were targeted in a triple-tap drone attack, according to the country’s National News Agency.
According to earlier reports from the agency, the father was killed instantly in the attack. The victims were said to be travelling on a motorcycle near Al-Sabah High School when the first drone strike hit them, followed by two additional strikes in the same area.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah was located in Israeli territory near the Lebanese border in the morning.
It said there was no damage or casualties, adding that crews were working to remove it from the area.
Israel has continued operations against Hezbollah despite an existing ceasefire arrangement.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time in a month, saying the attack killed a senior Hezbollah commander.
The renewed violence comes ahead of planned direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington next week.
