Deadliest day since ceasefire as Israel targets Hezbollah in Lebanon
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday killed 14 people, including two women and two children, marking the deadliest day since a ceasefire began over a week ago, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
The attacks also wounded 37 others amid ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
One Israeli soldier, aged 19, was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack inside Lebanon, with six other Israeli soldiers wounded.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for residents of seven towns north of the Litani River, urging them to leave the area to avoid harm.
These towns lie beyond a "buffer zone" occupied by Israeli troops prior to the ceasefire.
The US-mediated ceasefire, which started on 16 April and was extended for three weeks last Thursday, has brought a significant reduction in hostilities but remains fragile.
Both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating the truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah's violations are dismantling the ceasefire and emphasized that Israel is acting vigorously according to agreements made with the United States and Lebanon to ensure the security of Israeli soldiers and communities.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah fighters, rocket launchers, and a weapons depot during the operations.
It also intercepted three drones launched by Hezbollah before they crossed into Israeli territory.
Hezbollah vowed to continue attacks on Israeli troops inside Lebanon and on towns in northern Israel as long as Israel continued its "ceasefire violations." The Iran-backed group stated it would not wait for diplomacy that has "proven ineffective" or rely on Lebanese authorities that had "failed to protect the country." Israeli troops are operating inside an Israeli-announced "yellow line," a ribbon of Lebanese territory about 10km deep along the border, where residents have been warned not to return.
The situation remains tense with both sides continuing to exchange fire despite the ceasefire, raising concerns about further escalation.
It remains unclear how the ceasefire will hold in the coming weeks and whether diplomatic efforts can prevent renewed large-scale conflict.
