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Drone strikes despite ceasefire
Israeli drone strikes hit southern Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people even after U.S. President Donald Trump said the day before that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that Hezbollah had agreed that "all shooting will stop."
The National News Desk said Netanyahu later confirmed speaking with Trump but reiterated that Israel would continue striking Hezbollah targets if attacks persisted, adding, "This stance of ours remains unchanged."
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a drone strike near Marjayoun killed dentist James Karam and his two children, while other attacks in Jibchit, Toul and near Harouf killed five others.
The same report said Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles on Israeli troops pushing into the southern village of Hadatha, about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the Israeli border, as sirens sounded in northern Israel and the Israeli military said a suspicious aerial target was identified with no injuries reported.
Beirut truce and hospital blast
The BBC reported that Israel continued attacks in southern Lebanon on Tuesday but did not strike Beirut following a partial ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, under which Israel would not bomb the capital in exchange for Hezbollah not attacking Israel.
The BBC said Lebanon’s health ministry reported four people killed and 127 injured when Israeli air strikes hit buildings next to Jabal Amel hospital in the city of Tyre on Monday afternoon, with 39 hospital staff among the injured and four in a critical condition.
BBC quoted hospital director Dr Wael Mroueh saying, "We were working with patients and displaced people. Business was as usual, and suddenly, 'boom'," and he denied there was a military target nearby, adding, "The Israeli enemy targets journalists, ambulance workers, medical staff."
The BBC also said the Israeli military acknowledged that the attack caused damage to the hospital but emphasized that it "was not targeted," while it accused Hezbollah of embedding itself within civilian infrastructure and population centres.
Displacement, talks, and stakes
The AP reported that the ongoing hostilities, despite Trump’s announcement and a nominal ceasefire that began in April, are deepening displacement for Lebanon’s conflict-weary population, with more than 1 million people displaced.
AP said another round of talks between Israel and Lebanon began Tuesday in Washington, where Lebanese negotiators will seek a full ceasefire that would prevent future attacks, and it noted that the talks began in April and were the first in more than three decades between the countries.
AP also reported that the Islamic Republic wants any such deal to end fighting in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has rejected direct talks, counting on pressure from Iran.
In parallel, the Spectrum News report said the fighting has killed 3,433 people in Lebanon and displaced more than 1 million people, and it added that Netanyahu’s office said at least 27 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon.
