Israeli Airstrike Kills Six in Lebanon Amid Extended Ceasefire

Mon Jun 01 2026 16:39:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including paramedics, as a US-brokered ceasefire continues to face challenges.

In a tragic escalation of violence, six people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the town of Harouf, Lebanon, amidst an ongoing ceasefire that the US has attempted to extend. The attack has raised concerns over civilian safety, particularly as three of the deceased were paramedics responding to emergencies. The situation remains critical as both nations struggle with the realities of warfare and the prospect for peace talks, with over 2,800 lives lost in Lebanon since the conflict reignited in March 2026.

An Israeli air strike on a town in southern Lebanon has killed six people, including three paramedics, according to Lebanon's health ministry. It comes as the US said the two countries had agreed to a 45-day ceasefire.

The health ministry reported that a fourth paramedic had sustained critical injuries after a civil defence centre was attacked in the town of Harouf. The BBC has contacted the Israeli military for comment.

On Friday, the US state department announced Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their shaky ceasefire after two days of negotiations in Washington DC.

US President Donald Trump announced the truce on 16 April, but Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire since then.

On Wednesday, Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli air strikes had killed 22 people, including eight children, across the south.

We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border, said state department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

The state department said it would reconvene the political track of negotiations in June.

Additionally, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries.

Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the talks were frank and constructive.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed hope to mobilise all Arab and international support to bolster our position in the negotiations with Israel.

There have been almost daily reports of Hezbollah and Israel trading fire across the southern border of Lebanon since the ceasefire began.

Israel has intensified its air and artillery strikes in recent days, particularly in southern Lebanon, saying it was targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.

Lebanon's health ministry has accused Israel of targeting civilians and paramedics, which Israel denies.

The Israeli military states it is aiming to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to thwart future Hezbollah attacks.

In those areas, entire villages have been destroyed, leading to claims by human rights groups of potential war crimes, which Israel also contests.

Hezbollah has retaliated with its own attacks on Israeli troops using rockets and drones.

Southern Lebanon, a stronghold for Hezbollah, has been subjected to continuous Israeli bombardment, resulting in over a million people being displaced and the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The conflict originated on March 2, following a US-Israeli attack on Iran, igniting further confrontations between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, leading to significant casualties on both sides.

As reports confirm at least 2,896 people have died in Lebanon since the onset of this current conflict, the urgency for a diplomatic resolution remains evident amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.