Israel Launches Additional Strikes on Lebanon Despite Ceasefire Extension... "Hezbollah Violated the Ceasefire"

Reuters Yonhap News Agency

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Despite the announcement of a ceasefire extension between Israel and Lebanon, armed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, have continued, resulting in further casualties in Lebanon. Both Israel and Hezbollah are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire and are continuing their retaliatory airstrikes.

According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) on the 26th (local time), the Israeli military carried out airstrikes using fighter jets across southern Lebanon on this day. NNA reported that at least one person was killed and three others were injured in Lebanon as a result of the airstrikes. Before the strikes, the Israeli military had issued evacuation orders for areas in southern Lebanon, including Mayfadoun, Shukin, and Kfar Tebnit.

In response, Hezbollah retaliated by launching suicide drones targeting Israeli forces stationed in southern Lebanon on the same day. According to the Israeli military, one Israeli soldier was killed and six were injured as a result of the drone attack.

Israel and Hezbollah continue to trade accusations of violating the ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at a cabinet meeting on this day, "It must be clearly recognized that Hezbollah's violations of the ceasefire are effectively dismantling the ceasefire agreement," adding, "Israel has the right to respond to Hezbollah's threats even during the ceasefire period."

Hezbollah also issued a statement, saying, "Our attacks on targets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel are a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent ceasefire violations, which began on the very first day the temporary ceasefire was announced." The group emphasized, "Israel's continued breaches of the ceasefire, particularly its occupation of Lebanese territory and violations of sovereignty, will be met with proportionate resistance."

Earlier, even after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 23rd that the ceasefire period between Israel and Lebanon would be extended by three weeks, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted, causing the number of fatalities to continue rising. On this day, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that since early March, amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, there have been 2,509 deaths and 7,755 injuries in Lebanon, with casualties continuing to increase.

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