Two brothers killed in Israeli drone strike on sawmill in al-Bayyad

Two brothers were killed Monday in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a sawmill on the outskirts of the souhtern town of al-Bayyad in the Tyre district, the National News Agency said.

Israeli strikes over Lebanon had recently intensified amid scrambles to hold a tense ceasefire that ended Israel's war on Lebanon last November, and mounting pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.

Israel's latest conflict with Hezbollah began the day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah, largely based in southern Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians.

Despite the nearly year-long ceasefire, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon, often saying it is targeting Hezbollah positions. It is also still occupying five hills it deems "strategic" in south Lebanon.

President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri have said the Israeli strikes are "unjustified" and are targeting civilians and industries.

Earlier this month, Israeli strikes targeted bulldozer and excavator yards in south Lebanon's al-Msayleh area, destroying more than 300 pieces of machinery.

Strikes also targeted a cement factory and the south Lebanon water establishment's fuel depot used to operate electricity generators for water stations and wells.