Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon while Hezbollah announced new attacks on Israeli forces, continuing the conflict despite a U. S.-backed truce. The fighting is tied to the U. S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and has been ongoing since a ceasefire was announced on April 16. A recent 45-day ceasefire extension began following talks mediated by the U. S., aiming to resolve tensions between Lebanon and Israel while addressing the larger U. S.-Iran conflict.
In the latest developments, an Israeli strike killed a commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group and his daughter near Baalbeck. The Israeli military stated it took measures to avoid civilian harm in the strike. Hezbollah responded by using an explosive drone against an Israeli air defense position and launching attacks on Israeli forces in Lebanon. Reports indicated that Israeli airstrikes targeted over seven locations in southern Lebanon, and the military claimed to have struck more than 30 Hezbollah sites in the prior 24 hours.
The ongoing conflict has heightened the death toll in Lebanon to 2,988, including many women, children, and healthcare workers, with unconfirmed numbers of combatant fatalities. Israeli authorities reported 18 soldiers had died since the onset of war, alongside a contractor, while Hezbollah attacks have resulted in civilian casualties in northern Israel. Tensions remain high as both sides engage in continued assaults, despite the ongoing ceasefire efforts.
With information from Reuters
