President Joseph Aoun emphasized during a Cabinet session Thursday that he and PM Nawaf Salam are continously monitoring the situation in southern Lebanon, Information Minister Paul Morcos said after the meeting.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has again told Speaker Nabih Berri in their latest phone call that "halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon is included in our agreement with the United States."

The Israeli army said Thursday that a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, the fourth such death since a fragile ceasefire took effect there earlier this month.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has pointed out that instead of "panting after direct negotiations, which could be a disgrace to Lebanon," the Lebanese government should instead "turn to the International Criminal Court and accuse Israel of its repeated and ongoing war crimes against Lebanon."

Trump administration officials have said that the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is not collapsing, despite the growing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed nine people including two children, the health ministry said Thursday, shortly after the president decried ongoing Israeli violations of a nearly two-week ceasefire.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at midnight on 16 April. On 23 April, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire would be extended for an additional three weeks, following a second high-level trilateral meeting between representatives of Israel, the United States and Lebanon.

Following the announcement of the ceasefire, both the Israeli military and Hezbollah called on displaced populations not to return immediately to areas south of the Litani River.

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has expressed grave concern over alleged violations of international law arising from the recent escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, while cautiously noting that diplomatic developments following high-level discussions held at the White House in the United States between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors may influence the trajectory of the conflict.

The IBAHRI emphasized that any political progress must be accompanied by full compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as accountability for any alleged violations.

The European Union and the Ministry of Social Affairs have announced new EU funding of €45 million. For the first time in many years, EU funding will be channeled directly through a Lebanese government institution. "This marks a new phase in their partnership, working more closely with national institutions to deliver support to people across the country," the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon said in a statement.

The announcement was made Wednesday at the Grand Serail in the presence of Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed, Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, and EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele.

Strikes continued Thursday, despite a recently extended ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as the Israeli army struck Harouf, Jebshit, Toul, al-Henniyeh, Kawnine, Zebqine, Adshit, Qalaway, Nabatieh-Mayfadoun, Beit Yahoun, Jmayjmeh, Harees and Baraashit in south Lebanon.

It later ordered the residents of Samaiyeh, Henniyyeh, Qlayleh, Wadi Jilo, Knisseh, Kafra, Siddiqine and Majdalzoun to evacuate.