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Israel's Lebanon Airstrikes Kill Six, Including Paramedics, Hours After Ceasefire Extension

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least six, including three paramedics, hours after a ceasefire extension; Israel also claimed killing Hamas’s military chief, while Trump was briefed on Iran options.

Nadia Okafor/3 min/GB

Political Correspondent

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Israel's Lebanon Airstrikes Kill Six, Including Paramedics, Hours After Ceasefire Extension
Source: The GuardianOriginal source

TL;DR\n\nIsraeli airstrikes killed at least six people, including three paramedics, in southern Lebanon hours after agreeing to extend a ceasefire. Israel also said it killed Hamas’s military chief in Gaza, while US and Israeli media reported Trump was briefed on Iran strike options. The developments suggest a fragile calm may be unraveling.\n\nContext\n\nEnvoys from Israel and Lebanon concluded talks in Washington and agreed to extend a month‑old ceasefire for another 45 days, adding a US‑supervised security mechanism between their armies. The deal followed weeks of low‑intensity fighting in the south, where Israeli troops have repeatedly clashed with Hezbollah fighters. Lebanese state media reported that strikes hit five villages and a clinic operated by the Hezbollah‑linked Islamic Health Committee, killing six and wounding others. Israel’s military said it targeted Hezbollah militants preparing to fire rockets at its positions. Earlier in April, a Trump‑ordered ceasefire had limited Israeli attacks to the south while sparing Beirut and the north, but violations on both sides have kept the truce fragile. The United Nations has warned that continued strikes risk displacing thousands of civilians and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon.\n\nKey Facts\n\n- Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least six, including three paramedics, shortly after the ceasefire extension was announced.\n- Israel announced it killed Hamas military chief Izz al‑Din al‑Haddad in a targeted Gaza strike on Friday.\n- US and Israeli media reported that Donald Trump received a briefing on military options for Iran, potentially to break a five‑week‑old truce.\n\nWhat It Means\n\nThe attacks cast doubt on the durability of the newly extended ceasefire and raise the prospect of a broader flare‑up involving Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran. Analysts will monitor whether Lebanon and Israel adhere to the Washington‑brokered agreement, if Hamas retaliates for the loss of its senior leader, and whether the Trump administration decides to act on the Iran briefing. The coming days will test whether diplomatic channels can contain the violence or if the region slides back into larger‑scale fighting. A key indicator to watch is any statement from the Lebanese government or Hezbollah regarding the alleged targeting of medical facilities. Regional actors, including Egypt and Qatar, have urged restraint, while Israeli officials maintain that their actions are defensive and aimed at deterring rocket fire.

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