Lebanon said six people were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon as the United States announced a new 45-day ceasefire extension between Lebanon and Israel.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the strike targeted a civil defence centre in the southern town of Harouf. Officials said three paramedics were among those killed. A fourth paramedic suffered critical injuries during the attack.
The Israeli military said it had targeted and killed two Hezbollah members during the operation. Israeli officials stated that steps were taken to reduce harm to civilians during the strike.
The latest violence came just hours after the US State Department announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire following negotiations held in Washington DC.
The ceasefire was first announced on April 16 by Donald Trump. However, clashes and cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah have continued almost daily since the truce began.
The US said both countries agreed to continue diplomatic discussions in an effort to achieve longer-term stability along the border.
US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials hope the negotiations will help create lasting peace and strengthen security between both countries.
Pigott confirmed that political negotiations are expected to continue in June. He also said a separate security track involving military delegations from both sides will begin at the Pentagon on May 29.
Yechiel Leiter described the talks as honest and constructive. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon hopes to gain stronger Arab and international support during future negotiations with Israel.
Despite the ceasefire extension, violence along the Lebanon-Israel border has continued to rise in recent days.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli air strikes killed 22 people across southern Lebanon, including eight children. Israeli forces have increased air and artillery attacks in areas where Hezbollah is active.
Israel says its operations are focused on Hezbollah fighters, weapons sites, and military infrastructure. Lebanese officials and health authorities accuse Israel of targeting civilians and emergency workers, allegations Israel strongly denies.
The Israeli military says it is attempting to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent future Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.
Many villages in southern Lebanon have suffered heavy destruction during the fighting. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the scale of damage and civilian deaths, with some organizations suggesting possible violations of international law. Israel rejects those accusations.
Hezbollah has also continued attacks against Israeli forces using rockets and drones. The group says it is responding to Israeli military actions in Lebanon and supporting regional allies.
Southern Lebanon remains the main support base for Hezbollah and has faced continuous bombardment during the conflict. The fighting has forced large numbers of people to flee their homes.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than one million people have been displaced across the country since the conflict began. Most displaced families come from southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs, areas where Hezbollah has strong influence.
The current conflict began on March 2, shortly after the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes against Iran. Hezbollah responded by firing rockets into northern Israel, leading to heavy Israeli air strikes and a ground operation in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 2,896 people have been killed in Lebanon since the fighting started. Israeli authorities report that 18 soldiers and four civilians have died during the same period.
The renewed ceasefire extension is seen as an attempt to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the region. However, continued air strikes and rocket attacks show that tensions between Israel and Hezbollah remain extremely high.
International leaders continue to call for restraint as fears grow that further escalation could trigger a wider regional conflict involving multiple countries in the Middle East.
