Israel launches fresh strikes in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire extension

The Israeli army carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling across southern Lebanon early Friday despite a recently announced extension of a ceasefire, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

Israeli warplanes struck a house in the town of Touline in the Marjayoun district at dawn, followed by artillery shelling in the area. Additional airstrikes targeted the town of Kherbet Selm, the agency said.

In the Tyre district, Israeli aircraft carried out raids on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun, while overnight strikes also hit the Rihan heights in the Jezzine area.

Separately, Israeli forces carried out two demolition operations targeting homes in the town of Bint Jbeil and the village of Hanine in the Nabatieh district, the agency said.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the strikes were in response to rockets launched by Hezbollah toward the Israeli town of Shtula a day earlier.

“In response to the rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Shtula, the IDF (army) struck military structures used to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers and the State of Israel in the areas of Kherbet Selem and Toulain in southern Lebanon,” the army said in a statement.

The attacks came hours after US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had been extended by three weeks following ambassador-level talks at the White House.

The US-brokered 10-day ceasefire, which took effect on April 16, had been set to expire on Sunday.

Since March 2, expanded Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,200 people and displaced over 1 million, according to Lebanese authorities.