Israeli strike kills Turks trying to cross Lebanon-Israel border

An Israeli airstrike killed three Turkish nationals as they tried to cross from Lebanon into Israel, Ankara confirmed on the night of January 29th, The New Arab via Reuters reported.

The news of the killing was first reported by Lebanese media and later confirmed by Turkey’s foreign ministry. Ankara did not give a reason as to why the Turkish nationals attempted to cross into Israel.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this unlawful attack that resulted in the death of our citizens,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added: “As we have emphasised on every occasion, Israel must immediately end its aggressive policies that disregard human life and escalate tensions in our region.”

Procedures are being carried out to return their bodies to Turkey, the ministry said.

In a separate attack, an Israeli drone strike targeted a house in the village of Yohmor-Shqif, close to the Litani River in south Lebanon, on the evening of January 29th. There were no casualties reported, but the house was damaged, according to footage shared online.

Israel was supposed to entirely withdraw from southern Lebanon on January 26th under the ceasefire deal, but it said it would not take any notice of the ceasefire deadline, claiming that Hezbollah was still operating near the Israeli border.

Following US mediation, the ceasefire deal was extended to February 18th.

Israeli forces have killed more than 20 people on January 26th when southern Lebanese villagers, that are backed by the Lebanese army, attempted to enter their destroyed towns by force, managing to free some of them.

The New Arab via Reuters