Israel kills paramedic in drone strike on southern Lebanon despite truce

The US President Donald Trump held a furious phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, urging him to stop attacking and occupying Lebanese territories, according to an Axios report.

Trump noted that he had used intermediaries to communicate with Hezbollah and that he had received assurances that “all shooting will stop” by both sides.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2, when Israel and the US started a war against Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering the Tehran-aligned Shia group Hezbollah to fire missiles at Israeli positions.

Since then, Israel has intensified its attacks on Lebanon and expanded its invasion in the country’s south, killing more than 3,460 people and injuring 10,577 others across the country, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel has continued its ground offensive and near-daily air strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended until early July.

Israel continues to occupy several areas in southern Lebanon, including territories held for decades as well as areas seized during the 2023-24 conflict, while its forces have also advanced several kilometres into Lebanese territory during the current hostilities.