Lebanon: At least fifteen people killed, including two children, in Israeli airstrikes (Ministry)

New Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 15 people on Thursday, the Health Ministry announced, despite the ceasefire in place since April 17.

The Lebanese army also stated that one of its soldiers and "several members of his family" were killed in an airstrike targeting their home in the Nabatieh region (south). The Ministry of Health did not immediately comment on the attack.

Despite the truce, extended until mid-May, the Israeli army continues its strikes, mainly in the south, where its spokesman published several evacuation notices for about twenty localities on Thursday.

It has established a 10 km deep zone delimited by a "yellow line" - off-limits to the press and the public - in which it is carrying out demolition operations.

"Israeli violations persist in the south despite the ceasefire, as well as the demolition and razing of homes and places of worship, while the number of victims climbs day by day," President Joseph Aoun said in a statement.

Deadly Israeli strikes targeted various locations in the south starting Thursday morning, including locations not included in evacuation advisories, according to the National News Agency (NNA, official).

The Ministry of Health reported fifteen deaths, including at least five women and two children.

This report includes an Israeli drone attack against a group of people "gathered near the cemetery" in Zebdine, a town in southern Lebanon, according to the ANI.

"We must put pressure on Israel to respect international laws and agreements and stop targeting civilians, rescue workers, Civil Defense, humanitarian agencies (...)," said Mr. Aoun.

"Dangerous precedent "

Israel claims it wants to protect its northern region from attacks by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which continues to claim responsibility for attacks against Israeli positions in Lebanon and, more rarely, against Israeli territory.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel reserves "the right to take, at any time, all necessary measures in legitimate defense against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks."

A clause that Hezbollah contests, denouncing through MP Ibrahim Moussawi "a dangerous precedent".

The Shiite movement also continues to claim responsibility for attacks against Israeli positions. On Thursday, it announced that it had fired on Israeli tanks on Lebanese soil.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, announced on Thursday the death "in combat" of one of its soldiers in southern Lebanon, the fourth since the ceasefire came into effect.

The truce and its extension were announced by US President Donald Trump at the end of talks between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in Washington, intended to pave the way for direct negotiations between the two countries.

The US Embassy in Beirut called on Thursday for a meeting between the Lebanese president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Lebanon is at a turning point. Its people have a historic opportunity to take back control of their country and forge their future as a truly sovereign and independent nation," the embassy said on X, adding that "the time for hesitation is over."

A direct meeting between Mr. Aoun and Mr. Netanyahu, "facilitated by President Trump, would offer Lebanon the opportunity to obtain tangible guarantees on full sovereignty, territorial integrity, border security, humanitarian and reconstruction aid, as well as the complete restoration of the authority of the Lebanese state over every square inch of its territory — guaranteed by the United States," the embassy added.

Meanwhile, the gap is widening between the Lebanese president, determined to conduct these negotiations, and Hezbollah, which opposes them and is campaigning against him.

"I coordinated (...) each of my steps regarding the negotiations with the Speaker of the House (Nabih Berri) and the Prime Minister (Nawaf Salam)," said Joseph Aoun.

The Speaker of the House, Hezbollah's main ally, was quick to deny these remarks.

Israeli operations in Lebanon have left more than 2,500 dead and more than one million displaced since March 2, according to an official tally.

Dozens of residents and officials from towns in southern Lebanon occupied by the Israeli army gathered in downtown Beirut on Thursday to denounce the demolition operations being carried out there.