Israeli drone strikes targeted southern Lebanon on Friday, marking a continuation of hostilities despite a recently signed US-brokered framework agreement intended to facilitate a phased Israeli withdrawal. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the strike hit a pick-up truck on the outskirts of the towns of Choukine and Kfar Dajjal in the Nabatieh district early Friday morning. Local reports confirmed that two people were injured during the attack.
The strike was part of a broader surge in overnight activity, with separate incidents targeting a car in the south and demolition operations reported in the border town of Khiam. While the NNA reported further drone activity in the towns of Kfar Reman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa later in the day, no casualties were confirmed in those specific operations. The persistence of these strikes has raised serious concerns about the durability of the agreement signed on June 26, which was touted by the United States as a pathway toward de-escalation in the region.
The latest military actions coincide with intensified calls for accountability from Amnesty International. The human rights organization has formally demanded war crimes investigations into three separate Israeli strikes conducted in March, which claimed the lives of 24 civilians, including 12 children. Amnesty’s investigation concluded that the March 6, 12, and 13 attacks on Tyre, Sidon, and Nabatieh resulted in the deaths of six women—one of whom was pregnant—and six men, with at least 18 others wounded.
In a statement released on Thursday, Amnesty’s Kristine Beckerle accused the Israeli military of demonstrating a "callous disregard for civilian lives," citing the obliteration of entire families within the span of a single week. The organization has urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric, demanding an immediate comprehensive arms embargo on Israel. Furthermore, Amnesty has called for the utilization of universal jurisdiction to prosecute those responsible for potential violations of international humanitarian law.
The human rights group also expressed concern that the latest US-brokered deal might impede accountability efforts. They have urged the Lebanese government to grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory to ensure an impartial legal process. The current framework agreement has faced criticism for failing to force a withdrawal from the significant portions of southern Lebanon that remain under Israeli occupation. Israeli officials appear to be signaling that they will continue to carry out operations they deem necessary for national security. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the death toll from Israeli attacks since March 2 has risen to 4,321, with over 12,000 individuals injured, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis that persists despite diplomatic efforts.
