Al-Qassam commander Muhammad Shahin killed in IOF strike in S. Lebanon

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
17 Feb 2025 13:50
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This comes as "Israel" continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, with its military carrying out explosions in towns it has not withdrawn from.

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Lebanese Army, security forces, and civil defense first responders inspect the remains of a destroyed vehicle that was reportedly hit by an Israeli strike in Lebanon's southern city of Sidon on February 17, 2025. (AFP)

An Israeli drone targeted Monday a vehicle at the entrance of Saida, southern Lebanon, killing one person, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported, on the eve of the deadline set for the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanese territory.

The person targeted in the strike is a Palestinian official in the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, our correspondent mentioned, citing reports.

Later, Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV said al-Qassam commander Muhammad Shahin was martyred in a Zionist raid that targeted him in the city of Saida.

Lebanon's state news agency said rescuers had retrieved one body from the vehicle after firefighters extinguished the fire.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army cordoned off the site of the Israeli attack.

#EXCLUSIVE | An Israeli drone strike targeted a car at the entrance to Saida, South #Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/6jxCt8zJJG
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 17, 2025

Commenting on the aggression, former head of the Israeli Security Intelligence Tamir Hayman said Shahin's assassination is more related to the Israeli operation in the West Bank rather than the situation in Gaza or South Lebanon.

Israeli violations of ceasefire agreement continue in South

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said authorities were following up on contacts at various levels to push "Israel" to comply with the ceasefire agreement, stressing that the sponsors of the agreement must assume their responsibility in assisting Lebanon.

Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Sunday that it was the government's responsibility to ensure the Israeli military fully withdraws by Tuesday's deadline.

This comes as "Israel" continues to violate the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, with its military carrying out explosions in towns it has not withdrawn from, setting fires to homes, and bulldozing olive groves.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon, Israeli forces are bulldozing olive orchards in the town of Kfar Chouba, while the area is being combed with gunfire by Israeli forces. This coincided with an Israeli drone dropping a sound grenade over the residents of the town.

Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the southern town of Yaroun.

In the border town of Odaisseh, Israeli forces set fire to several homes and demolished others, while southern towns witnessed an intensified presence of Israeli drones in the skies.

On another front, "Israel" established a military position on Sunday on the al-Hamames hill, south of the town of Khiam, opposite the Metulla settlement.

The occupation forces also obstructed the Lebanese Army and Red Cross entry into the town of Houla, in an attempt to retrieve the body of the child Khadija Atwi killed by "Israel" yesterday.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that citizens stranded in Houla were able to leave the town without the intervention of the Red Cross or the Lebanese Army.

As the February 18 deadline for the Israeli military's withdrawal from southern Lebanon approaches—an extension from the initially scheduled withdrawal on January 26, 2025, under the ceasefire agreement—the occupation remains adamant about keeping its forces in five positions in southern Lebanon; a stance met with Lebanese opposition.