Israel Kills Six In Southern Lebanon As U.S. Extends Ceasefire 45 Days

Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire for 45 days after talks in Washington, U.S. officials said, with U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott saying, "The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress."

“The IDF said that they have killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’ military wing and "one of the last senior Hamas leaders involved in planning the October 7th massacre”

ABC News

Even as the truce was extended, an Israeli air strike on a town in southern Lebanon killed six people, including three paramedics, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

ABC News

The health ministry said a fourth paramedic sustained "critical injuries" after a civil defence centre was attacked in the town of Harouf.

The Israeli military told the BBC it had "identified" and "eliminated" two "Hezbollah terrorists," adding that "steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians."

The BBC also reported that the U.S. state department said Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their shaky ceasefire after two days of negotiations in Washington DC.

Pigott described the talks as "highly-productive" and said political negotiations would continue on June 2 and June 3, while a "security track" would begin on May 29 at the Pentagon.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he hoped to "mobilise all Arab and international support to bolster our position in the negotiations" with Israel, as the ceasefire renewal followed the second day of talks.

Al Jazeera

The BBC reported that Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the talks were "frank and constructive," while Lebanon's health ministry accused Israel of targeting civilians and paramedics, which Israel denies.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel launched new attacks on Lebanon on Friday, killing at least seven people in the south, according to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, and said Lebanon's Ministry of Health put the death toll at 2,951 since March 2.

The Guardian said an Israeli strike hit a centre of the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Committee in the southern town of Hanuf, killing six people including three paramedics, and wounding 22, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The U.S. said the ceasefire extension was designed to enable further progress, but the BBC also reported that Israel and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire since the ceasefire began.

“Lebanon says six killed in Israeli strike as US announces ceasefire extension An Israeli air strike on a town in southern Lebanon has killed six people, including three paramedics, according to Lebanon's health ministry”

BBC

The BBC said the state department would "reconvene the political track of negotiations" in June, and that "a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29" with military delegations from both countries.

The Guardian reported that moments after the ceasefire renewal was announced, an Israeli strike hit Hanuf and that Israel also carried out strikes in the southern city of Tyre after issuing evacuation orders.

Al Jazeera said Lebanon sent Presidential Special Envoy Simon Karam, while Israel’s Deputy National Security Adviser Yossi Draznin attended, and it noted that Lebanon insisted Israel fully end its attacks and occupation while Israel focused on disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Guardian added that Hezbollah’s patron Iran had demanded a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon before any peace agreement with U.S. president Donald Trump, and it quoted Leiter writing on X: "There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great."