Israel strikes Lebanon, kills 5 despite ceasefire extension

On May 15, a series of Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon killed at least 5 people and wounded more than a dozen, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. The strikes hit the towns of Tayr Felsay, Tayr Debba, Az-Zrariyah, Jebchit, and the village of Jouaiya, even as Israel had agreed to extend the ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The Israeli army also issued forced evacuation orders for residents of the villages of Sohmor, Roumine, al-Qusaibah, Kfar Hounah, and Naqoura in southern Lebanon. Al Jazeera correspondent Obaida Hitto, reporting from the southern city of Tyre, described it as a day of violence and noted that while the ceasefire was technically in effect, the reality saw a surge in Israeli attacks.

At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was “holding territory, clearing territory, protecting Israeli communities, and fighting enemies trying to outflank us.” Since the war resumed on March 2, at least 2,988 people have been killed and 9,210 wounded across Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry.

The attacks followed talks in Washington, D.C., where the two countries agreed to extend the ceasefire by 45 days, even though the initial truce starting April 17 was never fully observed. The third round of negotiations in the U.S. capital concluded after the first direct meeting in decades between Lebanon and Israel, two nations with no diplomatic relations. State news agency NNA reported that the extension aimed to pave the way for a U.S.-mediated security roadmap starting May 29, with the next talks scheduled for June 2–3 in Washington.

Hezbollah opposed the direct talks, especially as Israeli forces continued bombing southern Lebanon and occupying parts of it since the ceasefire. Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan criticized the direct negotiations conducted by the Lebanese government, arguing they led to “concession after concession” and created “very difficult situations” for the country. He stressed that Hezbollah would not disarm as demanded by Israel. Earlier, on May 14, Hezbollah said it had attacked a military target in northern Israel, following several operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The war is causing a catastrophic humanitarian toll. According to the Danish Refugee Council, more than 1.2 million people were displaced from their homes between March and April due to the fighting. The conflict has also pushed the economy to the brink. Bassem El-Bawab, head of the Lebanese Business Association, said the country has suffered over $25 billion in direct and indirect losses since the war began in 2024. About $12 billion will be needed for reconstruction, and that figure could rise if the conflict continues. He estimated the country is losing roughly $30 million per day in indirect economic damage, on top of the direct destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure.