• Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon result in at least 22 deaths, including eight children.
• More than 400 casualties have been reported since the ceasefire started on April 17.
• Direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington are set to proceed amid ongoing violence.

Israeli military strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 22 individuals, including eight children, as violence escalates ahead of a new round of U.S.-brokered talks set for Thursday in Washington. The Lebanese health ministry reported that attacks targeted approximately 40 locations throughout the south and east of Lebanon, leaving a significant civilian toll and raising concerns regarding the continuation of hostilities, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

On the same day, Lebanon's health ministry confirmed that up to 10 individuals were killed in strikes across three villages in southern Lebanon. In addition, multiple airstrikes targeting cars near the coastal highway resulted in further casualties, particularly impacting families, as reports indicated that eight of the victims were in vehicles struck along routes linking Beirut and southern cities like Sidon, according to BBC and Africanews.

Israel’s military stated that its operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers in southern Lebanon. The renewed airstrikes came just hours after Israeli authorities recommended that residents of multiple southern villages evacuate, reflecting an intensifying conflict environment ahead of the scheduled diplomatic discussions, as detailed by Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

Hezbollah has also remained active, claiming responsibility for numerous drone strikes targeting Israeli positions in the disputed border area. According to health officials, the total number of casualties from the conflict since its escalation on March 2 has surpassed 2,896 people, including a substantial number of civilians, indicating a humanitarian crisis as expressed by Lebanon's Health Minister, as noted by India Times and Channel News Asia.