By Micah Jonah
January 16, 2026
Israeli airstrikes have killed two people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry confirmed, marking the latest violation of the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
The Ministry of Public Health said an “Israeli enemy strike” on a vehicle in Mansuri killed one person on Friday. A separate strike on Mayfadun the previous night also claimed one life. Israel said the Mayfadun victim was a Hezbollah member involved in efforts to reestablish the group’s infrastructure in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.
On Thursday, the Israeli military carried out multiple strikes in the Bekaa region north of the Litani River after issuing evacuation warnings.
United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported a drone “dropped a grenade” on their troops. It was unclear whether the device detonated. UNIFIL said such incidents endanger both civilians and peacekeepers and violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
UNIFIL, established in 1978 and expanded after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, has over 10,000 peacekeepers monitoring hostilities south of the Litani River. The UN Security Council recently set plans to end UNIFIL’s mandate by the end of 2026, followed by a phased drawdown.
Israel has continued violating the ceasefire with Hezbollah since November 2024, causing hundreds of casualties while maintaining control over several Lebanese hills and other long-held territories.
Lebanese leaders face pressure from the US and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, amid fears that further Israeli strikes could escalate across the country.
