BEIRUT: At least 39 people were killed in a fresh wave of intense Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, as clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue despite a recently announced ceasefire deal.

One of the deadliest strikes hit the southern Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh, where at least seven people, including a child, were killed and 15 others injured, among them three children, the ministry said.

The Israeli military said it was targeting members and infrastructure linked to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group and political party based in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike in Saksakiyeh targeted “Hezbollah terrorists operating from within a structure used for military purposes.”

The IDF added that it had taken steps to reduce civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance, and said reports of civilian harm were being reviewed.

Violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has continued since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon on April 16.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, as the region witnessed another day of cross-border hostilities.

Israel says its military operations are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities near the border, while Hezbollah has continued launching attacks into northern Israel in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.