MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Lebanese and Israeli diplomats are due to meet in Washington today for another round of talks over what many Lebanese say is a ceasefire in name only. Lebanon's health ministry says 22 people, including eight children, were killed in Israeli attacks Wednesday. NPR's Jane Arraf has more from Beirut.
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JANE ARRAF, BYLINE: This was the funeral Wednesday in the coastal southern Lebanese town of Sidon for two medics. The men, the latest in 108 first responders dead, were killed by an Israeli airstrike 'cause they rushed to rescue wounded from an attack moments before. Israel says it strikes only Hezbollah targets. But the aid group Save the Children says, on average, four children have been killed or wounded every day in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire on April 17.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking Arabic).
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: (Speaking Arabic).
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking Arabic).
ARRAF: This is Lebanese surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who treats some of the wounded.
GHASSAN ABU-SITTAH: Children are less likely to be able to get out of danger.
ARRAF: Attacks Wednesday included drone strikes on main highways south of Beirut. Lebanon says they killed 12 people, including a woman and her two children. Israel did not respond to NPR queries on the target of those strikes. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has fired low-tech drones at the Israeli military. Israeli casualties have included a command sergeant major. Israel has responded by erecting nets. Lebanon has agreed to disarm Hezbollah, but in the meantime, Israel has invaded southern Lebanon and is bulldozing entire villages.
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ARRAF: On Thursday, as negotiators prepared for the U.S.-brokered talks, Israeli drones buzzed over Beirut, and Israel issued warnings to more villages that it planned to attack.
Jane Arraf, NPR News, Beirut.
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