NPR News: 06-20-2026 11PM EDT

Speaker 10:00

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Dale Willman· Host0:13

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Fighting continues this weekend in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire that was declared on Friday between Israel and Hezbollah. NPR's Jane Arraf has more from Beirut.

Jane Arraf0:27

It intensified again today with Israeli airstrikes killing at least thirty-two people, including women, children, and a Lebanese army soldier. The Lebanese army is supposed to eventually replace Hezbollah. And Israel says an Israeli soldier was killed today within Lebanon. The Lebanese government issued a, a grim milestone of at least four thousand people, including hundreds of women and children, killed in Israeli attacks since March second when the war began.

Dale Willman· Host0:56

And Arraf says portions of southern Lebanon have been reduced to rubble since renewed fighting began earlier this year. EU leaders are split over a top bloc official opening a diplomatic channel to Moscow without consulting them. Terry Schultz has our reports.

Speaker 41:12

European Council President Antonio Costa defends his decision to direct his chief of staff to reach out to the Kremlin despite not having the backing of the twenty-seven EU governments he represents.

Antonio Costa· Soundbite1:23

What I'm doing through my office is to establish a diplomatic channel because