Israeli strikes kill 5 in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah rockets hit open areas in Israel

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least five people Friday, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group fired rockets on northern Israel without inflicting any casualties.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Toura, near the port city of Tyre, killed four people and wounded eight. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported another airstrike near the southeastern village of Kfar Chouba, saying it killed a paramedic with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

The strikes came hours after the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson issued an evacuation warning to the residents of six villages in Tyre province, including Toura.

Early in the afternoon, Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets toward northern Israel. The Israeli military said it shot down one rocket, while the rest fell in open areas without causing casualties.

A ceasefire has been in place since April 17, but violence has continued, including an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said Thursday it had killed Ahmed Balout, whom it identified as a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, along with two other militants. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Lebanon-Israel talks expected next week

Israel says it has killed more than 85 Hezbollah militants and struck 180 sites used by the group in the past week, without providing evidence.

On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told a visiting delegation from the European Union that European countries should pressure Israel to commit to the ceasefire and abstain from “detonating and bulldozing ” homes in villages under Israeli occupation.

Aoun added, in comments released by his office, that Lebanon is committed to the ceasefire in order to start negotiations that will end the current conditions.

Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality, told reporters after meeting Aoun that Israel and Hezbollah are taking Lebanon “hostage.”

“Hezbollah should stop its attacks and disarm, and Israel should put limits to its airstrikes that target and have targeted humanitarian centres,” Lahbib said.

WATCH | Ongoing fighting in Lebanon as Israel, Hezbollah trade fire:

Lebanon says 4 dead in Beirut airstrike Israel says targeted Hezbollah leaders

The Israeli army says it killed Ahmed Ali Balout, a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan force, in an airstrike on Beirut. Lebanese officials say the strike left four people dead. There is a ceasefire deal between the countries, but Israel has continued operations in Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah.

Aoun later met with Simon Karam, the head of the Lebanese delegation to talks with Israel in Washington. The meeting is expected to be held in Washington next Thursday and Friday.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after the United States and Israel launched a war on its main backer, Iran. Israel has since carried out hundreds of airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, capturing dozens of towns and villages along the border.

Later, Lebanon and Israel held their first direct talks in more than three decades. The two countries have formally been in a state of war since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.

A 10-day ceasefire declared in Washington went into effect on April 17. It was later extended by three weeks.