An airstrike conducted by Israel resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the southern village of Touline, as confirmed by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated that Hezbollah was utilizing the town for operations, although no evidence was provided. Following the downing of an Israeli drone by Hezbollah, the ceasefire brokered by the U.S. was deemed insignificant by the Iran-backed group.
Simultaneously, an Israeli drone was observed hovering over Beirut on Friday, according to reports from Reuters correspondents. Residents of Deir Aames were instructed to evacuate immediately by the Israeli military, citing planned actions against “Hezbollah activities” in the area.
Located north of the territory held by Israeli forces, Deir Aames received its first warning from Israel since the ceasefire agreement between the two countries took effect on April 16. The Israeli warning, posted on social media, did not elaborate on the alleged Hezbollah operations in the town.
Indonesia strongly denounced an Israeli attack in Lebanon that led to the death of a fourth Indonesian peacekeeper, who succumbed to injuries sustained from an artillery explosion on March 29. Indonesia called on the United Nations to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths of its UNIFIL peacekeepers.
The extension of the ceasefire agreement was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump following a meeting with Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the extension, urging all parties to adhere to the ceasefire terms and international obligations.
Despite the ceasefire, clashes persisted between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israel maintained soldiers in a self-declared “buffer zone.” Hezbollah parliament member Ali Fayyad criticized the ceasefire as futile due to Israel’s alleged aggressive actions.
The ceasefire deal on April 16 did not mandate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the southern Lebanon area seized during the conflict. The zone, extending five to ten kilometers into Lebanon, aimed to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
The ongoing conflict has left nearly 2,500 individuals dead in Lebanon since March 2, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Hezbollah has caused casualties in Israel, while Israeli soldiers have perished in Lebanon, leading to continued tensions in the region.
Local residents expressed skepticism about the ceasefire’s sustainability, with many Lebanese calling for a genuine cessation of hostilities. In northern Israel, residents voiced concerns about the ceasefire’s durability, given recent incidents of violence.
At diplomatic talks, Israel emphasized its right to self-defense against hostile forces firing on its population, while Lebanon stressed the need for full compliance with the ceasefire for meaningful negotiations to proceed.
Lebanon aims to secure the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from its territory in future discussions with Israel. President Trump expressed optimism about the prospect of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon this year, anticipating further talks with both leaders.