Israeli strike on southern Lebanon kills journalist as ceasefire violations mount

The Israeli army has continued to violate Lebanese sovereignty with deadly attacks, despite Beirut's moves toward a US-backed plan to restrict weapons to the state and uphold a ceasefire agreement announced on 27 November 2024.

Lebanon's health ministry said journalist Mohammed Chehade, head of the online outlet Hawana Lebanon, was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike on the Zahrani road in Nabatieh district.

The strike came less than 24 hours after Israel escalated attacks beyond southern Lebanon, hitting the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district and killing one person, as well as bombing the Masnaa road, killing six and wounding ten.

Both assaults coincided with a Lebanese cabinet session.

On Thursday, the cabinet, despite a walkout by Amal and Hezbollah ministers, approved the objectives of a US memorandum aimed at extending and consolidating the ceasefire, with the stated goal of moving toward a permanent solution. The decision followed amendments from Lebanese officials.

According to its Arabic text, the US paper outlines 11 objectives, including Lebanon's full implementation of the Taif Agreement, its constitution, and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, along with measures to ensure only the state holds weapons and to end all Israel's land, sea, and air violations.

It also calls for Israel's withdrawal from occupied Lebanese points, full border demarcation, and a gradual end to all non-state armed presence.

Thursday night saw protests in Beirut, the south, and the Bekaa Valley by Amal and Hezbollah supporters against the cabinet's approval of the plan.

Demonstrators chanted against Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, while the Lebanese army deployed to prevent marches from spreading into other areas.

Last month, the Israeli army admitted to carrying out hundreds of violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, stating it had launched over 500 airstrikes since the truce came into effect in November 2024.