An Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese town of Aitaroun on Thursday afternoon killed municipal police officer Youssef Mustafa and injured two civilians, one critically. The attack occurred while Mustafa was riding his motorcycle amid intensive Israeli aerial activity over the area, local media reported.
According to al-Manar, the strike followed earlier Israeli operations, including a drone strike on an excavator in Yaroun, which caused no injuries, and a sound bomb dropped near a shepherd in Shebaa. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft were observed flying at very low altitudes over Eastern and Western Zawtar, Yahmor, Arnoun and Nabatieh, while machine-gun fire was reported from the Raheb position toward Aita al-Shaab.
The drone also dropped a second bomb on a vehicle previously targeted with a sound bomb in Shebaa. Israeli forces reportedly distributed warning leaflets over Shebaa, cautioning residents against crossing the so-called “red line.”
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces reportedly infiltrated Wadi Hunin at dawn, entering two homes near Odaisseh, breaking down doors and tampering with property. Additional drone flights were reported over Beirut, its suburbs, Ainata and Aitaroun.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that the Lebanese Army has deployed to over 120 permanent sites in the south to bolster security and prevent further escalation.
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