Israel strikes south Lebanon day after truce extension

BEIRUT — Israel launched massive airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, despite an extension of the truce between the two countries.

Israel said it was targeting Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and that the strikes were preceded by an evacuation warning covering nine villages.

The continuing bombardment has only increased skepticism about the truce among the thousands of Lebanese driven from their homes in the south.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported strikes on more than two dozen villages on Saturday, including one more than 50 kilometers from the border. It also reported a new exodus of residents toward the southern city of Sidon and the capital Beirut.

Later on Saturday, Hezbollah announced it had struck a military target in northern Israel. It said its fighters had targeted "the Ya'ara barracks ... with a swarm of attack drones", after having announced multiple operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

On Friday, the two countries agreed to extend a ceasefire — which began on April 17 but has been marred by numerous violations — by another 45 days.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that he "welcomes" the extension and "urges all actors to fully respect the cessation of hostilities".

Despite the truce, Israel continues to conduct strikes in Lebanon, and its forces are occupying territory near the border.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, regularly claims attacks on northern Israel and against the Israeli military in southern Lebanon, including multiple attacks on Israeli forces on Saturday.

Israel's military said on Saturday that one of its soldiers died in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing its losses to 21 personnel since the conflict with Hezbollah began in early March.

In the Gaza Strip, an Israeli airstrike killed the chief of Hamas' military wing, the most senior official from the Palestinian militant group killed by Israel since a ceasefire agreement in October that was meant to halt fighting.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in what it described as a precise strike on Gaza City on Friday.

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