BEIRUT: A recent Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Harouf has killed six people, including three paramedics, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The ministry added that a fourth paramedic sustained critical injuries following the strike, which targeted a local civil defense center.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
Ceasefire Extended Amid Persistent Hostilities
The strike occurred shortly after the U.S. State Department announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their current ceasefire for an additional 45 days. The agreement followed two days of intensive negotiations in Washington, D.C.
While U.S. President Donald Trump initially announced the truce on April 16, a sustained exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has continued to challenge the stability of the agreement. Earlier in the week, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon killed 22 people, including eight children.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott expressed hope that the ongoing diplomatic efforts would yield long-term results.
"We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border," Pigott stated.
The State Department confirmed that the political track of negotiations is scheduled to reconvene in June. Furthermore, a parallel security track involving military delegations from both nations will launch at the Pentagon on May 29.
Diplomatic Transcripts and Strategic Objectives
Officials from both nations offered measured assessments of the diplomatic progress:
Israel: Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter characterized the Washington talks as "frank and constructive."
Lebanon: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated his intention to "mobilize all Arab and international support to bolster our position in the negotiations."
Despite the diplomatic framework, military operations have intensified. The Israeli military has escalated its artillery and air campaigns in southern Lebanon, asserting that its operations strictly target Hezbollah personnel and military infrastructure. Israel maintains that its strategic objective is to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent cross-border attacks.
Conversely, Lebanon's Health Ministry has accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and medical personnel—a charge Israel denies.
Humanitarian Impact and Conflict Background
The ongoing military tactics in southern Lebanon have resulted in the widespread destruction of entire villages. Human rights organizations have raised concerns that some of these actions may constitute war crimes, allegations that Israeli authorities reject. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to launch rocket and drone strikes targeting Israeli military positions within Lebanon and northern Israel.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict remains severe:
Displacement: Over one million people—approximately 20% of Lebanon's population—have been displaced. The majority of evacuees originate from southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahieh), which serve as primary support bases for Hezbollah.
Casualties: According to Lebanese health officials, at least 2,896 people have been killed in Lebanon since hostilities broke out. Israeli authorities report that 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during the same period.
The current conflict escalated on March 2, two days after a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. In response, Hezbollah initiated rocket fire into northern Israel, prompting widespread Israeli airstrikes and a subsequent ground invasion of southern Lebanon.