BEIRUT: An Israeli drone struck a car in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing one person who the Israeli military said was a member of Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that a person was critically injured as the drone targeted a Rapide car on the Burj Al-Moulouk road in the border area.
The Israeli army claimed that “a Hezbollah member was about to engage in terrorist activity in Kfarkila.”
Since the ceasefire agreement took effect, the Israeli army has continued targeting Hezbollah leaders and cadres in the border area, north and south of the Litani Line, reaching the northern Bekaa region.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that more than 100 people have been killed since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on Nov. 27.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, who congratulated him on the work undertaken by the government in support of Lebanon’s unity, security and stability.
In a post published on X, Macron said that he discussed “reconstruction prospects and the reforms that need to be achieved” with Salam.
Macron added that he would receive President Joseph Aoun on March 28 in Paris, and that France’s commitment to Lebanon remained “strong and unwavering” in support of its recovery and sovereignty.
The French support comes as Lebanon engages in diplomacy to urge Israel to withdraw from five strategic hills in the border area.
The hills overlook Lebanese territory on one side and Israeli settlements on the other.
The Israeli army is using live fire to prevent any movement in the border villages, claiming to discourage “Hezbollah activity.”
Much of the Lebanese border region has been destroyed by Israel, with its forces continuing to demolish homes and facilities under the pretext that they belong to Hezbollah.
Lebanon is seeking to negotiate indirectly with Israel under US auspices to resolve 13 disputed land border points.
The development comes after the maritime borders were delineated through indirect negotiations during the leadership of former president Michel Aoun.
President Joseph Aoun urged the US side, during a meeting with the head of the committee overseeing the ceasefire implementation mechanism, to push Israel to withdraw by mid-week and release all Lebanese prisoners it holds.
A high-level diplomatic and military delegation from the US Embassy in Lebanon toured the eastern sector of the Lebanese-Israeli border on Friday, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Tony Faris, commander of the Lebanese army’s 7th Brigade.
The delegation observed the measures implemented by the Lebanese army in the border towns.
It assessed the extent of the destruction caused by the Israeli military in many of the towns within the sector.
The tour coincided with a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
He said that the Israeli army “will remain in five locations in southern Lebanon indefinitely to protect the residents of the north, regardless of the negotiations concerning the disputed points along the border.”
Katz instructed the Israeli military to fortify its positions at the five sites and prepare for a prolonged presence there.
Lebanon is preparing to finalize its documents regarding three committees established at the invitation of Washington.
The committees will focus on the release of prisoners, the completion of the Israeli withdrawal and the resolution of the land border dispute.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame visited the ancient castle of Chamaa, located in a village within the Tyre District.
Israeli drones caused significant damage to the castle citadel during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Israel “attempted to loot the citadel and other historical sites,” Salameh said.
“We have witnessed the systematic destruction of the Shamaa citadel and homes in this village, as well as in other villages. Israel has destroyed 10 sites, which constitutes a war crime,” he added.
Salameh said that Israel’s “destructive operations aimed to erase any chance of life, and we are already witnessing the negative consequences.”
He added that there has been no full commitment by Israel to implement UN Resolution 1701.
“The government remains determined to liberate the remaining occupied Lebanese territories,” the minister said.
“We will focus on reconstruction by encouraging expatriates to contribute and facilitating the entry of capital into Lebanon.”
