Israel has claimed that more than 220 Hezbollah fighters were killed in southern Lebanon over the past week, according to a report published by Pakistani media outlet Geo News.
In a statement issued on Friday (15 May), the Israeli military said that the individuals targeted were involved in preparations and operational activities linked to attacks against members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The military stated that more than 220 Hezbollah fighters had been killed during operations conducted over the previous seven days.
The Israeli military further said that it had carried out strikes on more than 440 Hezbollah targets across various locations in southern Lebanon during the same period. According to the statement, these targets were associated with Hezbollah’s operational infrastructure and activities in the region.
No independent verification of the casualty figures or the extent of damage from the strikes was immediately available.
Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel have agreed to extend their ceasefire by an additional 45 days. This was confirmed by United States State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Writing on social media platform X on Friday (15 May), Tommy Pigott said: “The two-day dialogue between Israel and Lebanon in Washington has concluded today. The talks were highly productive. Following this dialogue, the ceasefire announced on 16 April has been extended by a further 45 days.”
The ceasefire had originally been scheduled to expire on Sunday. However, the extension was agreed before the initial deadline concluded.
According to the report, Israel launched its military operation in southern Lebanon on 2 March. This followed heightened regional tensions after the United States began an air campaign in Iran on 28 March. After nearly six weeks of continued military activity, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire on 16 April through mediation led by the United States.
The latest extension indicates that diplomatic communication between the two sides is continuing despite ongoing military developments in the region. While Israel has maintained operations against Hezbollah-linked targets, the ceasefire arrangement remains in place under the newly extended timeline.
Key Developments
| Subject | Information |
|---|---|
| Reported Hezbollah fighters killed | More than 220 |
| Hezbollah targets struck | More than 440 |
| Original ceasefire announcement | 16 April |
| Ceasefire extension | 45 days |
| Dialogue location | Washington |
| Israeli operation in southern Lebanon began | 2 March |
| US air campaign in Iran began | 28 March |
The conflict in southern Lebanon remains closely monitored amid continued military operations and diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing wider regional escalation.
