Beirut, April 26 (Petra)-- Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed 14 people over the past 24 hours, including two children and two women, Lebanon's health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The ministry added that 37 others were wounded in the attacks, among them three women, as hostilities continue to strain a fragile cessation of fire.

The escalation comes despite an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 17 of a 10-day renewable truce between Israel and Hezbollah. On Thursday, the U.S. administration announced that the agreement would be extended for an additional three weeks.

Since March 2, Israel has repeatedly breached the fragile truce, resulting in further casualties and widespread property destruction across the region.

Israel continues to occupy various territories in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the outbreak of the current conflict. It also maintains its occupation of Palestinian and Syrian lands, resisting international calls to withdraw or accept the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

//Petra// AF