An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Harouf has killed six people, including three paramedics, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The ministry said a fourth paramedic suffered “critical injuries” after a civil defence centre was hit in the attack.
The incident comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts linked to a fragile ceasefire arrangement involving Israel and Lebanon, with the US saying both sides have agreed to extend a 45-day truce following talks in Washington DC.
On Friday, the United States Department of State announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their shaky ceasefire after two days of negotiations in Washington.
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 airstrikes killed 22 people, including eight children, across southern Lebanon.
“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 added it would “reconvene the political track of negotiations” in June.
“In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries,” Pigott added.
Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said the talks were “frank and constructive”.
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.
There have been near-daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel across the southern border since the ceasefire began.
Israel has intensified air and artillery strikes in recent days, especially in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.
Lebanon’s health ministry has accused Israel of targeting civilians and paramedics, a claim Israel rejects.
The Israeli military says its operations are aimed at creating a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent future Hezbollah attacks.
Entire villages in the south have been heavily damaged in operations similar to tactics used by Israel in Gaza. Human rights groups say some incidents could amount to war crimes, allegations Israel denies.
Hezbollah has continued launching rockets and drones at Israeli troops in Lebanon and at northern Israel.
Southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the country’s Shia population and Hezbollah support base, has faced sustained bombardment.
More than one million people, around one in five of Lebanon’s population, have been displaced from areas including the south, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs (Dahieh), where Hezbollah has significant influence.
The conflict escalated on 2 March, two days after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran. Hezbollah responded with rocket fire into Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 2,896 people have been killed since the escalation began, while Israeli authorities report 18 soldiers and four civilians have died over the same period.
