EU condemns recent Israeli strike in southern Lebanon

ISTANBUL

The European Union on Tuesday condemned a recent deadly Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

"The EU condemns the strike by IDF which has caused a number of civilian fatalities, including children, on Sunday in Southern Lebanon. This incident follows an escalation of IDF attacks and warnings," EU Spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a statement issued by European External Action Service, the bloc’s diplomatic arm.

The EU reiterated its call for the "full respect and implementation" of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

"Security concerns should be addressed by making full use of the monitoring mechanism established in the framework of the ceasefire agreement. The decisive efforts by the Government of Lebanon aiming at establishing the monopoly of the State on holding weapons should be supported by all," it added.

Five people, including three children, were killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Sunday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

A ceasefire was reached in November 2024 following a year-long cycle of cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel that began in October 2023. The conflict escalated into a full-scale Israeli offensive by September 2024, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and around 17,000 injuries.

Under the terms of the truce, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025. However, it has so far only partially pulled out troops and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.