At least 14 people, including women and children, were killed in a powerful Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. The attack, carried out on Sunday, April 26, 2026, also left at least 37 others injured. Among the dead were two children and two women. On the same day, Tel Aviv confirmed the death of an Israeli soldier during ongoing clashes in the region.

Despite an existing ceasefire, recent days have seen escalating cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon, reigniting tensions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, asserting Israel’s right to act against any “planned or imminent” attacks and to maintain full freedom to neutralize emerging threats. The Israeli military also ordered residents of seven towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately.

Tel Aviv claimed the operation was conducted in response to tensions with Hezbollah. However, civilian casualties and evacuation orders have placed the fragile ceasefire process under severe strain, raising concerns about renewed regional instability.

Hezbollah has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that the group violated the ceasefire in Lebanon. In a statement on Telegram, Hezbollah instead accused Israel of breaking the truce from the very beginning and warned against involving the Lebanese government in any bilateral agreements between Washington and Netanyahu. The group stated that Lebanon had no role or position in the ceasefire process.

According to Hezbollah, Israeli forces have continuously violated the temporary ceasefire since its first day by gathering troops in occupied territories and carrying out bombings in northern Palestinian settlements. The group described its attacks as legitimate responses to Israeli aggression. Hezbollah also claimed that Israel’s intensified assaults in southern Lebanon reflect disregard for international law and conventions.

The statement added that Lebanese authorities had hoped the ceasefire extension would halt destruction and bombings in southern Lebanon, but Israel’s actions have instead escalated. Hezbollah signaled that it will continue resistance against Israel’s frequent attacks in the region.

Two rounds of meetings have been held in the United States involving the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon and American politicians, aiming to open a direct negotiation channel between Israel and Lebanon. However, this process has exposed deep divisions between the Lebanese government and the armed group Hezbollah. Lebanon’s president and prime minister, along with much of the political leadership, support continuing the talks, viewing them as the only path to ensure Israeli troop withdrawal, lasting peace, and national sovereignty.

President Saf stated that Lebanon should not be used as a pawn in regional interests, a remark seen as directed at Hezbollah and Iran, who are trying to link Lebanon’s ceasefire and negotiations to the broader Iran-Israel conflict. Hezbollah argues that the Lebanese government lacks the capacity to pressure Israel, as the national army is not directly involved in the fighting. The group insists that Iranian support and the threat of Iranian attacks on Israel are essential to achieve any concessions.

Hezbollah parliamentary leader Mohammad Raad warned that negotiating while Israeli attacks continue could lead to consequences worse than the 1983 agreement, which failed to bring peace and deepened internal divisions.

The Israeli army has again warned residents of southern Lebanon not to return to their villages, saying large areas remain under its control. The military has reportedly extended its control up to the Litani River, establishing what it calls a 'yellow line.' Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that access to the Litani River, Wadi Salhaniya, and Saluki areas is prohibited. He also listed numerous villages where residents are barred from returning.

In a separate development, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) condemned the recent seizure of commercial vessels by the United States and Iran. The organization described the actions as violations of international law and called for the immediate release of detained sailors. ICS Marine Director John Stawpert told Al Jazeera that seafarers must be allowed to work and travel freely without harassment.

Representing nearly 80 percent of the world’s commercial fleet, ICS emphasized that seafarers are innocent workers and should not be caught in political disputes or used for political leverage.

Israeli military forces carried out attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, violating an existing ceasefire. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed that at least four people were killed in two separate strikes on Yahmour al-Shakif village in Nabatieh district. The area lies north of the Litani River and outside Israel’s self-declared ‘Yellow Line’ exclusion zone. The identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed.

According to reports, explosions were heard throughout the morning in the southern city of Tyre, while Israeli forces continued destroying homes and structures in several border areas, including Bint Jbeil, eastern border zones, and Naqoura. The Israeli military has been conducting operations both inside and beyond the ‘Yellow Line’ area, claiming that Hezbollah had been launching rockets from those locations.

Despite the ceasefire, tensions and destruction persist across southern Lebanon, with ongoing Israeli military activity raising concerns about renewed escalation in the border region.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon’s goal is to end Israeli occupation and bring back security and prosperity across the country. He made the remarks in an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anba, which was later published by Lebanon’s state news agency on April 24, 2026.

Salam emphasized that his government is working to secure both internal strength and international support, particularly from Arab nations, to overcome the country’s current difficulties. He described a sense of emerging hope in Lebanon despite the sensitivity and challenges of the situation, urging the nation to seize this opportunity to move toward solutions.

According to the prime minister, the Lebanese government remains active in seeking Arab backing to navigate ongoing crises and restore stability nationwide.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Lebanon’s Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement. The IDF reported intercepting several projectiles launched from Lebanon toward Israel and claimed to have killed three individuals identified as Hezbollah fighters who allegedly attempted to fire missiles at an Israeli aircraft. Hezbollah, through Telegram, confirmed launching rocket attacks into Israel, asserting that these were in response to Israeli violations.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah had previously fired rockets twice at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, actions the IDF described as clear breaches of the ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state news agency reported that Israel carried out strikes in the southern Tyre region earlier in the day. Hezbollah stated that its attacks on northern Israel were retaliatory measures following Israeli actions.

The renewed hostilities came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire and pledged U.S. cooperation with Lebanon to strengthen its defense against Hezbollah.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have destroyed or damaged more than 50,000 homes during the latest conflict with Hezbollah, according to official data released Wednesday. The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) reported that 17,756 homes were completely destroyed and 32,668 were damaged over a 45-day period. More than 2,400 people have been killed and over one million displaced since March 2, when Iran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war.

CNRS head Shadi Abdallah said that in the first three days of the ceasefire, 428 homes were destroyed and 50 damaged. A Lebanese official told AFP that Lebanon will request an extension of the ceasefire during its next meeting with Israel on Thursday. The country previously endured over a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, which escalated into a two-month war in late 2024 before a November ceasefire attempt.

Environment Minister Tamara Zein stated that Israeli attacks since 2023 have caused widespread destruction across residential areas, infrastructure, and farmland, leaving more than 220,000 homes damaged or destroyed.

Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam has declared that Lebanon will not sign any agreement that does not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. He made the statement in an interview ahead of scheduled talks in Washington on Thursday. The remarks followed his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he reiterated Lebanon’s firm stance against any proposal allowing Israeli presence in buffer zones that would prevent displaced Lebanese from returning or rebuilding destroyed areas.

Salam emphasized that Lebanon is entering the discussions with the belief that the United States is the only actor capable of exerting real influence over Israel. He credited Washington’s role in achieving a ceasefire and urged continued U.S. pressure on Israel. Addressing Western demands for Hezbollah’s disarmament, he described it as a long-term process that cannot happen overnight.

The prime minister underscored that Lebanon’s participation in talks should not be interpreted as a sign of flexibility, stating that while the outcomes remain uncertain, Lebanon’s objectives are clear.

The Israeli military has claimed that it captured a fighter from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in southern Lebanon. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the detained fighter had been planning an attack against Israeli forces. The IDF said he surrendered shortly after being identified and was transferred to an Israeli military intelligence unit for questioning.

Al Jazeera reported that it could not independently verify Israel’s claim. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said that Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a journalist. The NNA reported that the first strike hit a car in the village of At-Tiri, killing two people inside a house nearby.

The developments highlight ongoing hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides reporting casualties and military actions in recent days.

Lebanon and Israel are set to resume talks in Washington on Thursday aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between the two countries. This marks the second round of discussions following an earlier meeting that resulted in a temporary 10-day ceasefire beginning on April 16.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the ambassador-level talks will focus on ending Israeli aggression, withdrawing Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, releasing prisoners, deploying forces along the international border, and beginning reconstruction of war-damaged infrastructure. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have reportedly continued.

The renewed dialogue in Washington reflects ongoing international efforts to stabilize the region and move toward a more durable peace framework, though continued hostilities pose challenges to achieving lasting results.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has described Israel’s attack on journalists as a clear war crime following the death of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. He strongly condemned the Israeli strikes targeting journalists in southern Lebanon, particularly after Khalil was killed in an airstrike in the village of At-Tiri on Wednesday.

Salam stated that deliberately targeting journalists, preventing rescue teams from reaching them, and striking the same site again after rescuers arrive constitute a clear war crime. He added that such attacks on journalists performing their professional duties are no longer isolated incidents in the region but have become a systematic practice that violates international law and norms.

The incident occurred when an Israeli airstrike destroyed a building in At-Tiri, trapping Khalil under the rubble. She was later recovered dead, according to reports cited by Middle East Eye.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a journalist, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). The attacks took place in the village of At-Tiri, where the first strike damaged a vehicle and killed two people inside a house. The NNA reported that a subsequent airstrike hit a building in the same village, trapping a journalist under the debris. Amal Khalil, a reporter for the local newspaper Al Akhbar, was later found dead at the scene.

The Israeli military stated that it targeted two vehicles that had departed from a military facility used by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The NNA’s report, citing Al Jazeera as a source, confirmed that the strikes occurred in southern Lebanon but did not specify further details about the timing or broader context of the attacks.

The incident highlights ongoing hostilities between Israel and armed groups operating in southern Lebanon, though the report did not include any official reactions or statements from Lebanese authorities or Hezbollah.

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon’s Tyre city on Wednesday, April 22, killed Amal Khalil, a journalist for the newspaper Al-Akhbar, and seriously injured another reporter, Zainab Faraj. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Khalil was hit while on professional duty. She is the fourth media worker killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media reported that Faraj was injured while rescuers tried to free Khalil from the rubble. The Lebanese Red Cross transported Faraj to Tibnin Hospital. Authorities said the journalists had taken shelter in a nearby house after an initial strike, which was later targeted again, killing two other people and injuring several others.

The Israeli military acknowledged that two journalists were wounded but denied obstructing rescue operations, claiming the strike targeted two suspected vehicles linked to a Hezbollah military site. The United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack on journalists.

Israeli military warnings in Lebanon have sparked widespread panic among civilians after sudden mobile alerts began on September 27, 2024. The alerts displayed maps marked in red, identifying buildings, roads, and entire areas as danger zones. As the maps spread rapidly through WhatsApp groups, residents rushed to check their neighborhoods, leading to traffic jams as families fled their homes carrying children and elderly members.

Some alerts reached schools during class hours, prompting immediate evacuations. Many parents were unable to reach their children due to gridlocked roads, leaving some students stranded and crying on the streets. The Israeli army instructed residents to leave their homes and move at least 300 meters away for safety.

According to the report, such warnings have preceded multiple airstrikes, forcing locals to relocate within minutes. The ongoing alerts have filled daily life in many parts of Lebanon with fear and uncertainty, disrupting normal routines and heightening anxiety among civilians.