BEIRUT 

Another Lebanese was killed and seven others were injured by Israeli army fire on Monday as residents tried to return to their areas in southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said.

A ministry statement said that one person was killed and two others were injured in the town of Odaisseh, two were wounded in Bani Haiyyan, one in Yaroun, and two in Houla.

The casualties came one day after 24 people were killed and 134 others injured by Israeli gunfire during attempts by displaced civilians to return to their villages on Sunday.

Tension escalated as the Israeli army remained in the Lebanese territory after a 60-day deadline for its withdrawal from southern Lebanon passed on Sunday under a ceasefire agreement.

The White House, however, said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to an extension of the deadline for the Israeli withdrawal until Feb. 18.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported at least six new Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal on Monday.

Separately, Lebanese army reinforcements arrived on the outskirts of Meiss El-Jabal in preparation for deployment in the town.

A fragile cease-fire has been in place since Nov. 27, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and the Hezbollah group that began on Oct. 8, 2023, and escalated into a full-scale conflict on Sept. 23 last year.

Under the ceasefire terms, Israel was required to withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line – a de facto border – in phases, while the Lebanese army was to deploy in southern Lebanon within 60 days.

Data from the Lebanese Health Ministry indicates that since Israel’s onslaught against Lebanon began on Oct. 8, 2023, at least 4,080 people have been killed, including women, children and health workers, while 16,753 have been injured.