Israeli Strikes Hit Over 20 Hezbollah Sites in Lebanon After Ceasefire Takes Effect

The Israel Defense Force struck over 20 Lebanese Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley on Sunday, as part of an expansion of operations against the group's positions and infrastructure, including weapons manufacturing sites. The strikes occurred amid ongoing tensions following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect on April 17.

Lebanon's health ministry reported that Israeli strikes on Monday in southern Lebanon killed four people, including a woman, and wounded 51 others, among them three children.

An AFP tally of health ministry figures shows that Israeli strikes have killed at least 40 people in Lebanon since the ceasefire began. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem vowed on April 27 that the group would not relinquish its weapons or its defenses. U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel and Lebanon are both victims of Hezbollah. Qassem labeled last week's meeting between Lebanese and Israeli officials a gratuitous and humiliating concession on the part of the Lebanese government. U.S.

Conflict in Iran, now in its second full month, has added to regional instability. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said in a Sunday interview that upward pressure on oil prices amid the conflict is likely to continue, as significant supply has been taken out of the system.

Qatar has navigated a careful balancing act amid the Iran conflict, facing severe security and economic challenges, according to analysis from The American Conservative.

U.S. law, as outlined in a Washington Monthly legal primer. -Iran negotiations, Al Jazeera reported.

The group's emergence underscores its influence even after recent losses. In a separate development, Moody’s Ratings raised China’s sovereign credit outlook to stable from negative this week. The agency had dropped China’s sovereign rating from Aa3 to A1 in 2017.