Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon Kill 17 Despite Ceasefire

On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 17 people, including two children, and wounded 35 others, among them nine children and eight women, according to the Lebanese health ministry. This violence persists despite a ceasefire announced on April 16, marking the second week of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

The Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings for 15 villages in southern Lebanon, claiming ongoing operations against threats from Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel for violating the ceasefire, which has been described as fragile, with Hezbollah not involved in the agreement.

The conflict, which began on March 2, has resulted in the deaths of 2,500 people in Lebanon, including 103 health professionals. The Israeli military reported that one soldier was killed during combat on Thursday, bringing the total number of Israeli troop deaths since early March to 17.