Lebanese Prime Minister Reports Nearly 3,500 Israeli Air Strikes During Ceasefire

BEIRUT, June 8 (Reuters) — Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam disclosed that, since the United States declared a ceasefire on April 16, Israel has conducted nearly 3,500 air raids across Lebanon, alongside hundreds of controlled explosions.

The U.S.-mediated ceasefire took effect just after midnight on April 17, with Israeli forces still entrenched deep within southern Lebanon. Although air attacks on Beirut and its suburbs have largely ceased, clashes between Israel and the Iran‑backed Hezbollah militia have persisted in the south.

In a statement posted on X following a cabinet meeting, Salam noted that between April 17 and June 7 Israel executed 3,491 air strikes, carried out 407 controlled demolitions, and conducted six razing operations — destroying entire villages in the southernmost region of Lebanon.

The Israeli military has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Salam affirmed that Lebanon is working to preserve the ceasefire, but the recent escalation between Iran and Israel has triggered further waves of displacement, stretching the country’s capacity to accommodate displaced families.

To date, more than one million people — approximately one‑fifth of Lebanon’s population — have been displaced by Israeli strikes and evacuation orders since the conflict erupted on March 2.

The latest round of fighting erupted after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of its ally Iran, which was being targeted by Israeli and U.S. forces.

Hezbollah has persisted in its rocket fire against Israel and has declined U.S.-mediated talks with Lebanese and Israeli officials intended to reinforce the ceasefire with a durable agreement.

On Sunday, Israel struck the southern suburbs of Beirut in retaliation for Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel. Iran subsequently bombed northern Israel, prompting Israel to respond with strikes on several sites inside Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump remarked last week that ceasefires in the Middle East entail “shooting in a more moderate manner,” rather than an outright cessation of hostilities.

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