IRIA News

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Israeli air strikes across southern Lebanon have killed at least 41 people over 24 hours, Lebanese officials said on May 2, 2026, as fighting continues despite a ceasefire that was meant to halt hostilities.

The latest attacks have pushed the total death toll since early March to 2,659, with 8,183 others injured, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.

The strikes, carried out on multiple towns and villages, are the latest in a series of near-daily attacks that Lebanese authorities say violate the ceasefire declared on April 17 and later extended until mid-May.

While Israel maintains that its operations are targeting Hezbollah positions, many of those killed in recent attacks have been reported as civilians.

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said at least 41 people were killed and 11 others injured in Israeli raids over the past 24 hours. Among them, at least 10 fatalities were reported on Saturday alone, as air strikes intensified across southern regions.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, several areas were hit in quick succession. Three people were killed in an Israeli attack on the town of Shoukine in the Nabatieh district.

Two others died when a car was targeted in the village of Kfar Dajjal, while three people were killed when a home was struck in the village of Lwaizeh. Additional strikes on Shoukin left two more people dead.

At least 41 people have been killed as Israel launched 50 air attacks on southern Lebanon in 24 hours, despite a ceasefire being in place since 16 April.

More than 2,000 people have been killed as Israel's invasion of Lebanon continues. pic.twitter.com/9KCp0BHCTc

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 2, 2026

Israeli warplanes also carried out an air strike near al-Quds roundabout in the city of Nabatieh, while attacks were reported in Siddiqine in the Tyre district. The scale and spread of the strikes reflect a widening operational scope, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict.

Ceasefire in Danger

The current ceasefire, which began on April 17 following diplomatic efforts led in Washington, was intended as a temporary halt to fighting. It was later extended for three weeks, with hopes of creating space for broader de-escalation.

However, conditions on the ground suggest otherwise. Continuous air strikes, artillery fire, and cross-border attacks have raised questions about the effectiveness of the agreement. Lebanese officials say Israel has continued daily violations, including air raids and the demolition of residential structures.

A previous truce reached in November 2024 had similarly collapsed amid renewed hostilities, underscoring the fragility of ceasefire arrangements in the ongoing conflict.

More than one million people have been displaced across Lebanon since the outbreak of the war, adding to the humanitarian strain in the country.

Hezbollah’s Response

Despite mounting casualties, Hezbollah has indicated it will continue its operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The group said on Friday that it had targeted multiple Israeli troop positions and military vehicles across front-line towns.

The attacks included artillery strikes on Israeli forces near the Moussa Abbas complex in Bint Jbeil and in the village of Hula. Hezbollah also said it used drones to target soldiers in Biyyada.

In recent weeks, the group has increasingly relied on small drones controlled by fibre-optic cables to strike Israeli military assets. These systems have been used to target armored vehicles, including a Humvee in the town of Taybeh and a Merkava tank in Rishaf. According to reports, three Israeli soldiers have been killed in such attacks.

The growing use of these drones has raised concerns within the Israeli military, particularly as they have been linked to a rising number of injuries among soldiers stationed along the border.

The latest round of fighting began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. The attack came two days after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer.

Since then, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes across Lebanon and carried out a ground offensive in the south, capturing multiple towns and villages along the border area. Israeli officials have also maintained what they describe as a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon, saying it is intended to prevent further cross-border attacks.

Despite the ceasefire framework, violence has persisted, with both sides continuing military operations. Observers on the ground say the ceasefire exists largely in name, with ongoing clashes and expanding areas of engagement.

International Reactions and Pressure

International concern has grown as the ceasefire continues to weaken. Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York, China’s envoy said there is no real ceasefire in place, describing the situation instead as a “lesser fire.”

“It is incumbent on Israel to stop this bombardment of Lebanon,” the envoy said, as China assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for May.

At the same time, pressure is mounting within Israel over the future of the ceasefire. Reports indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing calls from political opponents and segments of the public to abandon the agreement.

Military officials have also reportedly expressed frustration, saying that continued restrictions under the ceasefire framework are exposing Israeli forces to ongoing attacks, particularly from drone strikes carried out by Hezbollah.

As the conflict continues with no clear resolution in sight, the gap between diplomatic efforts and realities on the ground appears to be widening, raising concerns about a broader escalation in the weeks ahead.