Israel strikes southern Lebanon and Beirut suburbs despite ceasefire

Israel struck southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday and Thursday, killing a senior Hezbollah commander and wounding civilians despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 17.

Lebanese state media reported hits across multiple towns and villages. The Israeli military also issued fresh evacuation warnings to three villages north of the Litani River.

Why is Israel still striking Lebanon despite the ceasefire?

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 17 but has not stopped the fighting in southern Lebanon. Israel has continued near-daily strikes, targeting Hezbollah commanders and positions it says pose active threats.

Hezbollah has also regularly claimed attacks against Israeli forces occupying parts of southern Lebanon since the truce began.

Who was killed in the Beirut suburb strike?

The Israeli army said the strike on Beirut's southern suburbs killed the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Force, an elite unit within the Iran-backed armed group.

AFP photographs showed the top floors of a residential building completely destroyed, with rescuers searching through rubble on Thursday morning. Hezbollah had not retaliated for the attack as of Thursday.

What did Israeli strikes hit in southern Lebanon?

Strikes on the southern city of Nabatieh targeted a shopping center and residential buildings, according to Lebanese state media and an AFP correspondent.

In the nearby village of Toul, two rescuers from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee were wounded while responding to a previous attack. Their ambulance was heavily damaged in the strike, a spokesperson told AFP.

How many people have been killed since the war began?

Since the war began on March 2, Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,700 people in Lebanon. The Israeli military says it has lost 17 soldiers and a contractor in southern Lebanon.

On Wednesday, the military said an explosive drone strike wounded four Israeli soldiers, one severely, in southern Lebanon.