BEIRUT, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning, despite an ongoing ceasefire that ended months of conflicts with Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
At around 9:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on the outskirts of Ansar, a village in Nabatieh Governorate, and conducted two airstrikes on the area between the towns of Qlayleh and Al-Sama'iya, as well as the valley near the village of Maaroub in Tyre District, according to the NNA.
Israeli warplanes also hit targets in Saida District in southern Lebanon, according to the NNA.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, ending more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which escalated following the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
Although the agreement stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, Israel has maintained its presence in five key positions along the Lebanese border beyond the Feb. 18 deadline. ■
