Hezbollah Member Killed in Israeli Drone Strike in Aita al-Shaab
Drone attack in Aita al-Shaab on March 23, 2025. ©This is Beirut

One person was killed on Sunday morning in an Israeli drone attack targeting a vehicle in the border village of Aita al-Shaab.

According to reports, the victim was identified as Hassan Nehmeh al-Zein, owner of a café in the area. Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee confirmed in the afternoon that Israel had eliminated a Hezbollah member in this strike.

A drone attacked a car in Yaroun and there are preliminary reports of injuries.

Israeli artillery shelling and airstrikes resumed at dawn on Sunday in Aita al-Shaab, while surveillance aircraft flew at low altitude over Beirut and its southern suburbs.

Three drones flew at low altitude over the town of Zahrani.

The region of Labbouneh, located between Alma al-Shaab and Naqoura, was also targeted by Israeli artillery shelling. An Israeli drone bombed a prefabricated room in Naqoura, placed atop a destroyed home.

On Saturday night, the Israeli army attacked prefabricated homes in Shihin and an event tent under construction, with no casualties reported.

These developments follow a new escalation on Saturday in South Lebanon and the Beqaa region. A series of artillery strikes and air raids on about a dozen Lebanese areas resulted in 7 deaths and 40 injuries, according to the Ministry of Health.

On Saturday evening, the Israeli army announced that it had killed Hezbollah operations commander Radwan Salim Awada in a raid on Tyre, in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on Sunday that Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Lebanon, conducting dozens of airstrikes and violating the border. The latest escalation, which extends beyond the Litani River to the Bekaa region, has resulted in casualties, injuries, and significant material damage.

According to the statement, Israeli military and engineering units crossed the technical fence early Sunday, carrying out clearing operations in Wadi Katmoun, near the town of Rmeich. Infantry troops were also deployed on Lebanese soil in what the army condemned as a blatant violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.

In response, the Lebanese army has reinforced its presence in the area. A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol was also dispatched to document the violations. The Israeli troops later withdrew back to occupied territory, the statement noted.

The Lebanese army command stressed that it is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with UNIFIL and other relevant parties in an effort to prevent further escalation along the tense southern border.

Diplomatic Efforts

Amid the ongoing military escalation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji continued his diplomatic efforts to push for a return to calm and an end to hostilities in Lebanon.

He contacted the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmad Aboul Gheit, and the European Commission's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice President, Kaja Kallas. Rajji urged them to intervene and establish the necessary contacts to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Aboul Gheit expressed, on the X platform, “the Arab League's full support for and solidarity with Lebanon, in the face of the ongoing Israeli aggression against that country”.

“We will intensify our international contacts in order to put an end to these attacks and ensure full compliance with the commitments of both parties, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement reached earlier”, he added.

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