Israel Claims It Killed Hezbollah Fighter in Southern Lebanon Drone Strike

A new deadly airstrike was launched today (April 16, 2025) in southern Lebanon, with Israeli military authorities asserting that a Hezbollah fighter was killed. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed one person lost their life due to an Israeli strike in the southern region but did not specify if the victim was a Hezbollah member. Earlier in the day, Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) announced that a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was targeted and neutralized by Israeli airstrikes near the Qantara area, located about 7 kilometers from the Israeli border. Despite a ceasefire agreement enacted on November 27, 2024, Israel continues frequent attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, claiming they target Iran-backed forces. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, a drone attack on a vehicle resulted in one fatality in the Wadi al-Hutayra region. Yesterday, another drone strike in the Aitarun area claimed two lives, including a 17-year-old. Since November 27, 2024, the United Nations reports that 71 civilians, including women and children, have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement requires only UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army to remain in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border. Hezbollah, significantly weakened by the war, must retreat north of the Litani River, roughly 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, dismantling remaining military infrastructure. However, the Israeli army remains entrenched in five strategic positions despite commitments to withdraw fully.