BRUSSELS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday that Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, which killed hundreds overnight, did not fall within self-defense.

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (File photo: Xinhua)

"Israel's right to defend itself does not justify inflicting such massive destruction," Kallas said in a post on social media platform X. She warned that the strikes risk further destabilizing the region and added that Israel's actions were putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain.

The United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening, less than two hours before a deadline set by Washington in the morning. Israel said it accepts the truce but will continue fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Kallas noted that the ceasefire should be extended to Lebanon.

So far, the Israeli strikes on Wednesday across Lebanon have killed at least 254 people and injured 1,165 others, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital of Beirut among the hardest hit, according to the latest data provided by the Lebanese Civil Defense.