Israeli strikes kill 16 in Lebanon hours after ceasefire

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 people in Lebanon on Saturday, just hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah was supposed to take effect. Israel's military stated the strikes targeted Hezbollah locations in response to over 50 projectiles fired by the group overnight.

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Our entire lives would change if there's a ceasefire.

Lebanon's civil defense agency reported 16 fatalities. One of the deadliest strikes hit a residential building in the southern town of Barish, killing a father, mother, and their two children. The Lebanese army also reported an Israeli strike killed a soldier.

Hezbollah confirmed its commitment to the ceasefire but vowed to respond to any Israeli attempts to seize territory or expand its occupation. The group stated its fighters remained prepared to defend Lebanese territory and had engaged Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate an area in southern Lebanon overnight.

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Hezbollah said it remained committed to the ceasefire but would respond to any attempt by Israel to seize territory or expand its occupation, adding that its fighters remained fully prepared to defend Lebanese territory.

The renewed violence underscores the precariousness of the truce, which aimed to halt months of escalating conflict. The situation also impacts an interim peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, which partly relies on an end to the conflict in Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry reported 3,912 deaths in Israeli attacks since March 2.

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calm could be achieved if Hezbollah halted what she described as hostile activity and violations of agreements, adding Israel's presence in a security zone aimed to remove threats and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure, not harm civilians.