Israeli attacks kill two in south Lebanon: ministry

Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed in separate Israeli attacks on south Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest flare-up despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes and shelling on multiple areas in the south.

The ministry said an "Israeli enemy strike" hit a forested area in Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, killing one man, while Israeli gunfire on the border town of Kfar Kila killed another.

The Israeli army said it struck "a Hezbollah terrorist" in southern Lebanon, alleging he was working to restore a site used to manage the group's "fire and defence array".

The military later said it hit "several military sites throughout Lebanon" belonging to Hezbollah, accusing the group of trying to reestablish its weaponry there.

It did not immediately comment on the shooting in Kfar Kila.

NNA said the man in Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa was a "municipal employee" who had been fixing wells when his motorcycle was struck.

The latest attacks come after Irish peacekeeping troops came under fire during a joint patrol with the Lebanese army near the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris said on Thursday.

According to the BBC, the incident occurred earlier in the day, with Irish forces confirming that several small arms rounds were fired in the vicinity of the patrol.

No injuries were reported and the armoured vehicles used by the troops sustained no damage.

Harris condemned the incident, calling it an "utterly inappropriate, utterly unacceptable" attack, and said he would raise the matter directly with the Israeli government.

Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE, he added: "This is the latest in a range of what I view as intimidatory behaviour by the [Israeli military] towards peacekeepers, or as we saw recently, Irish diplomats too. So this is not acceptable."

Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war.

Under the deal, only UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army are meant to operate in the south, though Israel has maintained a presence in five areas it deems strategic.

Lebanon has urged the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks and withdraw its forces.