Israeli defense minister statements and developments in southern Lebanon

On April 23, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are prepared to resume military action against Iran. Katz stated that targets within Iran have been identified and that Israel is awaiting a decision from U.S. President Donald Trump to proceed. Simultaneously, reports from southern Lebanon indicate ongoing instability despite a previously agreed-upon ten-day ceasefire. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that three people were killed in a strike on a road in the Nabatieh district, while another incident in Yatar left an adult and a child wounded. Conversely, the IDF stated they killed two armed individuals in the Aainata area after they approached military personnel. These incidents occur shortly before diplomatic meetings in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli representatives, where Beirut intends to request an extension of the ceasefire.