Israeli Airstrikes Injure Five in Southern Lebanon, Including Four Paramedics

The attack occurred next to a medical center, prompting the ministry to condemn repeated strikes and reference protections under the Geneva Convention. A separate air raid in Arab Salim, Nabatieh district, killed at least one person and injured three others, including a child, according to the ministry.

The Israeli military reported killing two Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, stating they posed an imminent threat to its soldiers. Hezbollah fighters were identified inside structures and eliminated in a subsequent strike, the military said. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claim.

Israel approved a plan to purchase new squadrons of F-35 aircraft from Lockheed Martin and F-15IA jets from Boeing in a deal worth billions of dollars. The Defence Ministry described the acquisitions as part of a $119 billion plan to bolster military readiness and maintain air superiority amid regional threats.

The committee emphasized the purchases address wartime needs and secure long-term strategic edges.

“The F-35 and F-15IA acquisitions are central to the ‘Shield of Israel’ plan, which is designed to give the [military] a lasting qualitative edge.”

U.S. military aircraft activity surged toward the Middle East, with transport and refueling planes observed en route from Europe. Flightradar24 tracked an increase in C-17A Globemaster III cargo planes and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, some operating near Israel. At least 12 transport aircraft departed from locations including Germany.

Iran presented a revised proposal in ongoing talks with the U.S., rearranging demands to show flexibility while maintaining key items like its enrichment program. A professor at University of Applied Sciences in Tehran noted the list prioritizes ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz before addressing enrichment.

President Trump rejected the proposal, insisting on full concessions, according to an associate professor at Georgetown University in Qatar. A former IRGC commander threatened to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a graveyard for U.S. forces, comparing them to pirates.

The statement referenced the downing of a U.S. F-15E plane last month. The IRGC intelligence unit stated the U.S. faces a choice between an impossible military operation or a bad deal, citing shifts in international tones.

“The U.S. is the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers. Our ability to confront pirates is no less than our ability to sink warships.”

A military analyst described U.S.-Iran diplomacy as continuing despite threats, with negotiations in official channels amid military positioning. He noted the talks as hard and incisive with hiccups, but a return to war is possible though not inevitable. Both sides maintain military alternatives if talks fail.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces conducted incursions into towns north of Tulkarem, including Saida, Attil, Ellar, and Deir al-Ghusun. Settlers began paving a road in Beit Awwa west of Hebron, and a 13-year-old Palestinian was injured by troops in al-Ram north of Jerusalem.

Soldiers detained two Palestinians, including a woman, from Bethlehem governorate. Israeli police arrested 21 suspects attempting a Passover sacrifice at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound with a goat. The group tried to force entry, and suspects were released after a court hearing, according to reports.

The compound sees regular visits by right-wing Israelis under police protection, despite status quo restrictions on non-Muslim prayers.

An Israeli court extended the detention of two Gaza flotilla activists by two days for questioning. The activists, from a fleet intercepted in international waters off Greece, were among 175 captured while aiming to break the Gaza blockade with supplies.

Officials worldwide condemned the interception as a violation of international law. Reports emerged of Israeli soldiers looting in southern Lebanon, with witnesses describing theft of weapons, jewelry, and other items from homes and shops. A newspaper quoted a reservist on instances of looting by reserve units, despite warnings from top commanders.

Similar incidents occurred during the Gaza war. Iran executed a man convicted of killing a security officer during 2022 unrest sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody. The judiciary reported the defendant confessed to the assault. A rights group stated he was tortured for a forced confession.

Israel's new 'Orange Line' in Gaza expands military boundaries, covering an additional 11 percent of the Strip and restricting aid movement. UN agencies report increased congestion without visible markers, leading to uncertainty and gunfire near the lines.

Roughly 60 percent of Gaza now falls within restricted areas.