Deadly Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

At least nine people, including two children, were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the health ministry said, as violence continues despite a ceasefire now in its second week.

The strikes - which Israel said were targeting Hezbollah infrastructure - also wounded 23 people, among them eight children and seven women, the ministry said.

Separately, Hezbollah said it had carried out attacks on Israeli forces in the south, including a drone strike targeting soldiers in the Bint Jbeil district.

The violence comes as Israel presses ahead with military operations in Lebanon despite the ceasefire announced on 16 April, after direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticised what he described as "continuing Israeli violations" of the truce, saying strikes and demolitions of homes and places of worship were ongoing "despite the ceasefire".

"Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions, and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence and humanitarian organisations," he said.

On Thursday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 15 villages in southern Lebanon. Many of the villages were outside what Israel has designated as the "Yellow Line" - a strip of territory extending roughly 10km (6 miles) from the border where it says it continues to operate against threats.

Israel says its actions are in response to what it describes as violations of the deal by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia and political party. Hezbollah was not involved in the ceasefire agreement but had indicated it would abide by its terms if it was also respected by Israel.

While the truce largely halted strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs, fighting has persisted elsewhere in the south, with continued air raids and repeated evacuation orders.

Lebanese officials say this amounts to a pattern of violations, while Israel maintains it is acting within the terms of the agreement. The US-mediated ceasefire permits Israel to respond to what it describes as "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks" - but Hezbollah rejects this part of the agreement.

The fragile truce has also exposed political divisions in Beirut over what comes next.

President Aoun has backed direct, face-to-face talks and said the ceasefire should evolve into a more "permanent agreement". Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, has taken a sharply different stance, opposing direct talks and warning they carry risks.

The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah started on 2 March after the group fired rockets into Israel, which responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Since then, more than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 103 health professionals, according to the Lebanese health ministry. It does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but says the number includes at least 270 women and more than 170 children.