Israel Airstrikes Southern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire Extension

Although Israel and the Lebanese government agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire agreement, the Israeli military subsequently launched large-scale airstrikes on over 20 villages in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah. Israel stated it had issued evacuation warnings prior to the strikes. In response, the Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the extension and urged all parties to comply, but ongoing military actions render the ceasefire ineffective. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of 21 Israeli soldiers and over 2,900 people in Lebanon.