Israeli Strikes Kill 3,020 in Lebanon as 45-Day Ceasefire Fails to Halt Fighting
Updated
Updated · PBS NewsHour · May 18
Israeli Strikes Kill 3,020 in Lebanon as 45-Day Ceasefire Fails to Halt Fighting
12 articles · Updated · PBS NewsHour · May 18
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes have killed 3,020 people since March 2, including 292 women and 211 children, as fighting with Hezbollah continues despite a ceasefire.
More than 1 million people have been displaced, with Israeli troops still holding large areas of southern Lebanon and airstrikes continuing daily, including new evacuation warnings near Tyre.
The latest round began after Hezbollah fired at Israel two days after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran; Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah rearmament, while the group has resisted pressure to disarm.
A 45-day ceasefire extension agreed Friday runs into June, and military delegations are due to hold direct talks on May 29 even though Hezbollah is not part of the negotiations.
On the Israeli side, 20 soldiers, two civilians and a defense contractor have been killed since the fighting began, while six U.N. peacekeepers have also died in the crossfire.
With peace talks excluding Hezbollah, can any Lebanon-Israel agreement truly last?
As cheap drones challenge billion-dollar defenses, is the era of military superpowers ending?
2026 Lebanon-Israel War: Civilian Impact, Regional Dynamics, and the Fragile Path to Peace
Overview
The ongoing conflict between Lebanon and Israel remains intense, as shown by the Israeli air strike on May 17, 2026, which targeted an apartment building in Douris, eastern Lebanon. This attack killed Wael Abdel Halim, a leader in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, and his 17-year-old daughter, Rama, with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health confirming these civilian casualties. The incident highlights how renewed military actions continue to directly harm civilians, including minors, underscoring the persistent violence and severe humanitarian impact of the conflict despite any attempts at de-escalation.