An average ‌of 11 children have been ​killed or injured ⁠every 24 hours in Lebanon in the last week, as Israel expanded ‌strikes across the country in spite of a ‌ceasefire being in place.

Heavy ‌Israeli ⁠strikes hit towns and ⁠villages in southern Lebanon overnight on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) and into Thursday (May 28, 2026), after Israel declared ​a new swathe ‌of the area “a combat zone”.

On Thursday (May 28, 2026), an Israeli strike hit a building in ‌the southern suburbs of Beirut ​amid a ceasefire that has failed to halt fighting ⁠between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in south Lebanon.

A total of ‌77 children have been killed or injured in the last seven days, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. Since the ceasefire began in April 55 children have ‌been killed, and 212 injured, according ​to the agency.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires described the toll ⁠as “staggering”.

The ceasefire announced by Washington ⁠on Thursday (April 16, 2026) was meant to halt the war ‌raging between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah since Monday (March 2, 2026).