BEIRUT, April 30 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed, including two children and five women, in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon since early Thursday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said on Thursday, as Lebanon's leaders slammed continuing Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement that in an initial toll, nine people, including two children and five women, were killed on Thursday and 23, including 8 children and 7 women, were wounded.
Also on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for international action to halt Israeli attacks and investigate alleged crimes against workers and civilians, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).
During a meeting with delegates from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Aoun said Israeli violations continue in southern Lebanon despite a declared ceasefire, including the destruction of homes and places of worship, noting that the number of casualties is rising daily.
The Lebanese president stressed the need to pressure Israel to respect international laws and agreements and stop targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defense personnel, and humanitarian and medical relief organizations.
In a statement marking International Workers' Day, Berri called for "a swift formation of an international fact-finding committee" into the Israeli crimes against workers and their workplaces, especially farmers in the southern border regions south of the Litani River.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli self-propelled 155 mm artillery piece south of the Lebanese village of Yaroun on Thursday morning with an attack drone, claiming a direct hit.
The developments came despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect at midnight between April 16 and 17, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. On April 23, U.S. President Donald Trump said the current 10-day ceasefire would be extended by three weeks. ■
