At least nine people, including two children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to the Lebanese health ministry, as violence continues to undermine a ceasefire now in its second week. The strikes, which Israel said targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, also wounded 23 people—eight of them children and seven women.
Hezbollah responded by claiming attacks on Israeli forces in the south, including a drone strike aimed at soldiers in the Bint Jbeil district. The escalation comes despite a ceasefire brokered on April 16 following direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned what he called "continuing Israeli violations" of the truce, noting that strikes and demolitions of homes and places of worship persist. "Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions, and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence and humanitarian organisations," he said.
On Thursday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 15 villages in southern Lebanon, many located beyond the so-called "Yellow Line"—a roughly 10-kilometer (6-mile) strip along the border where Israel says it continues operations against threats. Israel asserts its actions are in response to Hezbollah's violations of the deal. Hezbollah, while not a party to the ceasefire, had indicated it would abide by its terms if Israel did the same.
While the truce has largely halted strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs, fighting has persisted elsewhere in the south, with continued air raids and repeated evacuation orders. Lebanese officials describe a pattern of violations, while Israel maintains it is acting within the agreement's terms. The US-mediated ceasefire reportedly permits Israel to respond to what it deems "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks," a clause rejected by Hezbollah.
The fragile ceasefire has also exposed political divisions within Lebanon. President Aoun has called for direct, face-to-face talks to evolve the truce into a "permanent agreement." In contrast, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, opposes direct negotiations, warning of associated risks.
The latest conflict erupted on March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Since then, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 270 women and over 170 children, according to the health ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. On Thursday, the Israeli military reported one soldier killed in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing the total Israeli troop deaths since early March to 17.