Israeli Strikes Kill 14 in Lebanon as Ceasefire Tensions Escalate

Lebanon's Ministry of Health has said Israeli strikes on the country on Sunday killed 14 people, including two children and two women, and injured 37. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson had earlier issued evacuation warnings for several villages in southern Lebanon, writing that residents "must evacuate" immediately, and that staying would be "endangering their life". The IDF later said it had carried out "artillery and aerial strikes" targeting Hezbollah operatives and sites in southern Lebanon that it claims were used "to advance attacks against IDF soldiers". It also said a 19-year-old IDF soldier had been killed and six others injured by a Hezbollah drone attack in Lebanon. Separately, Hezbollah launched three drones towards Israel, the IDF reported, which it said were intercepted by Israel's air force before they crossed the border. The two countries remain under a precarious semi-permanent ceasefire, which took effect on 16 April and was extended by three weeks on Thursday last week. Under the deal, Israel retains its "right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks". Speaking at a government meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF is "active, and it is acting with force" in Lebanon, stating Hezbollah's actions are "disintegrating the ceasefire". "We are acting vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and incidentally, with Lebanon as well. This means freedom of action, not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but to thwart immediate threats and also to neutralise emerging threats," he said. Sunday's activity came after the IDF said it struck Hezbollah "military structures" overnight, and accused the Iran-backed group of launching two explosive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) towards Israel. Both Israel and Hezbollah have reported attacks from one another since the ceasefire came into place, accusing each other of violating the agreement. At least six people were killed in strikes on southern Lebanon on the same day. Last week, US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire between the countries that had been due to expire on 22 April to allow talks to continue. Araghchi was also in Islamabad on Saturday as part of a regional tour where he held talks with mediator Pakistan. Shortly after Araghchi left for Oman, Trump announced he was cancelling a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad.