Exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah leads to casualties

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accuses the Lebanese movement Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, claiming that the group fired rockets at Israel. According to the National News Agency, four people were killed in Lebanon as a result of retaliatory Israeli attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to deliver a powerful strike on the positions of the Lebanese radical Shiite movement Hezbollah on Lebanese territory. This order followed the IDF's statement regarding the group's violation of the ceasefire, which had been extended earlier this week.

Netanyahu's office released this statement on Saturday, April 25. Just hours earlier, Israeli military reported the "elimination of more than 15 terrorists in southern Lebanon," including three who were traveling in a vehicle "loaded with weapons."

According to Reuters, the military claims that the Lebanese movement carried out rocket attacks on Israel.

Lebanon reports casualties from Israeli strikes

The IDF also accused Hezbollah of using "explosive drones" aimed at soldiers in the Kantara area. AFP reported that the drones "exploded" near the troops but, fortunately, did not cause any injuries.

However, the Lebanese state agency National News Agency reported tragic news: on April 25, four people were killed as a result of Israeli strikes on southern areas of Lebanon.

Ceasefire extended for three weeks

Earlier, on April 23, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social the extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for three weeks.

This important agreement followed a meeting attended by the White House chief, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon Mike Huckabee and Michelle Issa, as well as "high-ranking representatives" from both countries.

Historic direct negotiations took place in Washington on April 14 between representatives of Israel and Lebanon, the first since 1993.

These important discussions were conducted by the ambassadors of the two states in the U.S. According to the State Department, following the meeting, the parties took steps towards initiating direct negotiations for a peaceful settlement.

Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates again

The armed confrontation between the parties has intensified again following the start of the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran at the end of February.

Since the beginning of March, Hezbollah has resumed rocket attacks on Israel in response to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli Air Force did not delay in responding, carrying out massive airstrikes on Lebanon in retaliation for the attacks.