Tel Aviv, April 24 — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Friday, targeting what it described as militant infrastructure despite an announced ceasefire. The Israeli Air Force said the strikes hit sites in the Khirbet Salam and Tulin areas, which it accused Hezbollah of using to plan attacks on IDF forces and Israel. The Air Force said the raids were a response to rocket fire launched toward the Shlomi area the previous night.
The reported strikes follow statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after talks with senior officials from both countries. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had met with high-level Lebanese and Israeli representatives and that leaders from both nations would visit Washington in the coming weeks. He described the agreement as an additional three-week pause in firing but cautioned that threats from Hezbollah remained a concern.
Trump also posted on his social platform that the ceasefire would be extended and said the United States would work with Lebanon to help protect it from Hezbollah, naming several U.S. officials who participated in the Oval Office discussions. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called the three-week extension “a major, historic moment,” crediting Trump’s direct engagement for enabling the agreement.
The situation remains fluid, with claims and counterclaims from the parties involved. This report is based on a syndicated feed published as received; the Tribune disclaims responsibility for independent verification of the content.
