BEIRUT – Fresh Israeli attacks killed at least seven people in southern Lebanon on Sunday despite an ongoing ceasefire, Lebanese media reported. Three people were killed in an airstrike in the town of Safad al-Battikh, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said.
Another airstrike near Tyre killed three more people – two Syrians and an Egyptian, NNA added. Another person was killed when a drone struck a motorcycle in the same area.
Ceasefire Violations Mount
The attacks come despite a 10-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on April 17, which was later extended by three weeks until May 17. The ceasefire was intended to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, but violations have been reported on both sides.
Rising Casualties
On March 2, the Israeli army launched expanded strikes in Lebanon, killing over 2,600 people and displacing over 1.6 million others, according to Lebanese officials. The death toll continues to rise as strikes persist despite the ceasefire agreement.
Regional Context
The renewed attacks occur against the backdrop of broader regional tensions. Iran has set a one-month deadline for the US to end its naval blockade and the wars in Iran and Lebanon, submitting a 14-point revised proposal to Washington. The US has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports, and the ceasefire between the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, remains fragile.
Analysis: A Fragile Ceasefire
Sunday’s attacks underscore the fragility of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. Despite Trump’s announcement of a 10-day truce and its subsequent extension, Israeli strikes have continued, and Hezbollah has also claimed attacks on Israeli positions.
The death toll — over 2,600 killed since March 2 — is a stark reminder of the human cost. The displacement of over 1.6 million people has created a humanitarian crisis.
The US has not commented on the latest attacks. The ceasefire extension until May 17 offers a window for diplomacy, but continued strikes erode trust.
As Iran and the US negotiate over the naval blockade and the broader conflict, the situation in Lebanon remains volatile. The attacks on Sunday are a warning: the ceasefire may not hold.
