Israel jets fly over Lebanon capital, break sound barrier for 1st time since ceasefire

Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and its southern suburbs on Wednesday evening, marking the first such incident since the 27 November ceasefire agreement, Anadolu Agency reports.

The escalation coincides with reports of Israel postponing the withdrawal of its army forces from southern Lebanon despite an 18 February deadline.

According to the Lebanese state news agency, NNA, Israeli fighter jets conducted low-altitude flights over Beirut, the Matn district in Mount Lebanon, and parts of the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon.

Lebanese officials denied, on Wednesday, any agreement to extend the deadline for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 27 November, ending months of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict last September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by 26 January, but the deadline was extended to 18 February after Israel refused to comply.

Lebanon has reported nearly 900 Israeli ceasefire violations, killing and injuring dozens, including women and children, since 27 November.

READ: Israel will stay in south Lebanon, says military spokesperson