An Israeli drone strike on Monday killed a Lebanese couple and injured a third person when two guided missiles hit a civilian vehicle traveling on the Zebdine–Nabatieh road, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The ministry identified the victims as Hassan Atwi, a blind man with special needs who had previously been wounded in the “Pager” operation, and his wife Zeinab Raslan, who was driving the car. The attack marks the latest in a series of Israeli assaults on southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement signed with Hezbollah in November 2024.

Local officials said the strike was part of a broader escalation in Israeli air operations that have targeted residential areas and civilian vehicles over recent months. According to the UN Human Rights Office, at least 105 Lebanese civilians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, with no Israeli casualties reported from cross-border fire originating in Lebanon.

The Zebdine attack follows a deadly drone strike on September 21 in the Bint Jbeil border area, which killed five people, including three children, and wounded two others. Among the victims were Shadi Sobhi and members of his family, dual U.S.–Lebanese citizens from the al-Hawsh neighborhood near Tyre.

In August, Israeli forces targeted and killed photojournalist Mohammed Hamza Shehadeh on the Tyre–Sidon highway as he was traveling to cover the aftermath of previous bombings. Since the renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in September 2024, more than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed and around 17,000 wounded, according to monitoring groups.

The escalation has compounded Lebanon’s severe economic and humanitarian crisis. The Lebanon Humanitarian Fund estimates that about 2.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, while the country continues to host approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

Against this backdrop, Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) issued a statement condemning what it described as “the ongoing massacres and deliberate targeting of civilians” by Israeli forces. The organization warned that continued bombardments are obstructing the restoration of essential services and preventing displaced families from returning to their homes, particularly in southern towns such as Bint Jbeil and Tyre.

“The persistence of Israeli airstrikes in the midst of Lebanon’s economic collapse has turned daily life into an ordeal for civilians,” WJWC said. “Entire communities face widespread destruction, while the occupation’s control over border areas has left tens of thousands stranded.”

WJWC urged the international community to intervene urgently to protect civilians, facilitate the safe return of displaced people, and accelerate reconstruction and compensation efforts. It also called for effective international pressure on Israeli authorities to comply with international humanitarian law, cease all attacks, and ensure full protection for civilians and journalists.

“These continuous violations against unarmed civilians are a blatant breach of international law and must not go unanswered,” the organization concluded.