An airstrike conducted by Israeli forces resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the southern village of Touline, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah was active in the area and issued a warning indicating potential action against militant activities originating from the town of Deir Aames. Iran-backed Hezbollah dismissed the ceasefire agreement following the downing of an Israeli drone.
Simultaneously, an Israeli drone was reported to be flying over Beirut on Friday. The Israeli military instructed residents of Deir Aames to evacuate immediately, citing concerns over “Hezbollah activities” in the region. This warning marked the first of its kind since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on April 16.
The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemned an Israeli attack in Lebanon that led to the death of an Indonesian peacekeeper. The peacekeeper, who sustained severe injuries from an artillery explosion on March 29, succumbed to the injuries on Friday. Indonesia called for a thorough investigation by the United Nations into the deaths of its UNIFIL peacekeepers.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel after hosting diplomatic representatives from both countries. The extension was welcomed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged all parties to abide by international law and respect the cessation of hostilities.
Despite the ceasefire, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain stationed in a self-declared “buffer zone.” Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad criticized the ceasefire as meaningless due to ongoing hostilities and Israeli actions in the region.
The ceasefire agreement does not mandate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the southern Lebanese belt seized during the conflict. The zone, extending five to ten kilometers into Lebanon, aims to safeguard northern Israel from potential Hezbollah attacks.
Residents in both Lebanon and northern Israel have expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the ceasefire and called for a genuine halt to violence. The continued fighting has led to frustration among the Lebanese populace, who demand a lasting ceasefire to end the conflict.