1 killed, another wounded in fresh Israeli strike on southern Lebanon

One person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting a motorcycle in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to local media. The attack came as the Israeli army continued its strikes despite a US-brokered framework deal between Lebanon and Israel in June. The Israeli drone struck a motorcycle in the town of Qabrikha, in Marjayoun district, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.​​​​​​​ Israeli artillery also hit the towns of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun in Tyre, while army forces opened machine-gun fire toward the Hujeir and Saluki valleys, located between the Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil, and Nabatieh districts.

Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the town of Bani Hayyan in Marjayoun, according to the agency. Israeli drones also flew at low altitude over Beirut, its southern suburbs, and the Zahrani area in southern Lebanon, according to the agency. The attacks came after Lebanon and Israel held technical military talks on Oct. 20-21 in Tampa, Florida, under US sponsorship. The talks ended without an announced breakthrough or joint statement, though reports said the two sides agreed to continue meetings amid ongoing disputes over Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Despite a framework agreement signed in June that provides for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have continued, killing nearly 4,400 people, wounding around 12,400, and displacing more than 1 million others since March 2, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel occupies areas of southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the 2023-2024 war, while during the latest conflict, its forces advanced around 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanese territory.