War

At least nine people were killed and 13 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on several towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday despite a temporary ceasefire, Lebanese media reported.The state-run National News Agency said three people were killed and seven were injured in a strike in the town of Jibchit, where a residential building was destroyed.In the town of Toul, four people were killed and six others wounded, with another residential building destroyed.Two more people were killed in the town of Harouf, where a house was hit by an Israeli aircraft, the agency said.Israeli warplanes also carried out a strike on the town of Sultaniyeh, while artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Mifadoun.Since March 2, Israel has waged a deadly offensive on Lebanon that has killed at least 2,534 people, wounded 7,863 and displaced more than 1.6 million -- about one-fifth of the population -- according to official figures.A 10-day ceasefire that began April 17 was later extended until May 17, but Israel continues to violate it daily through airstrikes and the demolition of homes in southern Lebanon.