Israeli strikes on cars in southern Lebanon kill 12, health ministry says

At least 12 people have been killed in seven separate Israeli air strikes on cars south of Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry says, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah continues despite a ceasefire.

Eight people, including two children, died when drones targeted three vehicles on the coastal highway in the Barja, Jiyeh and Saadiyat areas, around 20km (12 miles) from the capital, according to the ministry.

The others were killed in strikes on four cars further south, in the city of Sidon and the towns of Maaliyeh, Chaaitiyeh and Naqoura.

The Israeli military has not yet commented.

But it did say that Israeli forces struck Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers in several areas of southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

The military also told residents of nine towns and villages in the south to evacuate, warning that it intended to act forcefully against Hezbollah in the vicinity.

Hezbollah said its fighters had attacked Israeli troops operating in several areas in southern Lebanon with attack drones, rockets and explosive devices.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) meanwhile said it was "increasingly concerned" about the activities of Hezbollah members and Israeli soldiers near UN positions in southern Lebanon, including "the increased use of drones, which has resulted in explosions in and around our bases and put peacekeepers at risk".

On Tuesday, two paramedics from the state-run Civil Defence emergency service were among 13 people killed in strikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The ministry accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the paramedics in what it called a "blatant violation of international humanitarian law" while they carried out a rescue mission in response to an earlier attack that killed one person.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it struck what it described as a "terrorist" in the Mayfadoun area, south of Nabatieh, and insisted the paramedics were not the target.

"The objectives of the strike were not achieved in the initial strike, and therefore, the terrorist was struck again in order to remove the threat," it said. "It should be emphasized that the strike was directed solely at a terrorist, and not toward rescue personnel."

The military also said a strike in the Kfar Dounine area on Monday night that reportedly killed six people in a house, including a child, his father and his aunt, had targeted a Hezbollah operative who was carrying out an artillery attack on Israeli soldiers.

The Lebanese health ministry says more than 400 people have been killed across the country since the ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump almost a month ago.

More than 10,600 homes have also been damaged or destroyed over the same period, according to the country's National Council for Scientific Research.

Israel has intensified its air and artillery strikes in recent days, particularly in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.

Hezbollah has carried out drone, rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli troops occupying parts of southern Lebanon and on communities in northern Israel.

On Thursday, Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to hold a third round of direct talks in Washington to try to find a way to stop the fighting.

In a letter released on Tuesday, Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem dismissed those efforts and said his group would "not abandon the battlefield".

The conflict started on 2 March, two days after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran. Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, and Israel responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

At least 2,896 people have been killed in Lebanon since then, according to the health ministry, whose figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Israeli authorities say 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed over the same period.