A recent Israeli airstrike has resulted in the deaths of five individuals in central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. This marks the second consecutive day that Israel has targeted locations within the capital as it intensifies its operations against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Smoke was observed billowing from the attack in the densely populated Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhood, located near the central district where the Lebanese government operates.
After the airstrike, two individuals were reported missing, and an additional 31 sustained injuries, as stated by the ministry.
In the past week, Israel has escalated its airstrikes in and around Beirut, while Hezbollah continues to launch missiles into Israeli territory, despite ongoing US-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
A diplomat acquainted with the discussions warned that several details still require clarification, which could potentially delay a final agreement.
US envoy Amos Hochstein is anticipated to arrive in Beirut shortly, according to a source from the US.
Since late September, Israel has inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah, including the death of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, extensive airstrikes across various regions of Lebanon, and the deployment of troops into southern Lebanon.
This evening, rocket sirens were activated throughout Tel Aviv and much of central Israel.
The Israeli military reported that falling debris from an intercepted missile impacted a major street in a Tel Aviv suburb and indicated that an investigation is ongoing.
This incident resulted in injuries to six individuals, including one 54-year-old woman who is reported to be in serious condition, according to Israel’s ambulance service.
Soldiers and firefighters rushed to assist after a rocket launched from Lebanon struck the Ramat Gan area near Tel Aviv.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a barrage of drone attacks targeting “sensitive military sites” in Tel Aviv.
Earlier, an Israeli woman lost her life when a rocket hit a building in Shfaram, located in the northern region of Israel, as reported by the ambulance service. The Israeli military indicated that around five projectiles were fired from Lebanon.
Since Israel’s offensive began in September, most airstrikes in the Beirut area have focused on Hezbollah’s strongholds in the southern suburbs.
However, yesterday marked Israel’s first strike within the Beirut city limits in over five weeks, resulting in ten deaths across two separate attacks, including that of Hezbollah’s prominent media official.
Israel initiated its offensive following nearly a year of cross-border tensions with Hezbollah.
The primary objective is to dismantle Hezbollah’s operational capabilities and facilitate the return of tens of thousands of Israeli evacuees from the north.
In solidarity with its ally Hamas, Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel since the onset of the Gaza war over a year ago. Over the past eight weeks, Israel’s campaign has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon.
Major world powers assert that a ceasefire must adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which resolved the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
This resolution requires Hezbollah to relocate its weapons and fighters to locations north of the Litani River, approximately 30km from the Israeli border.
A fire erupted in a building following an Israeli attack in Beirut.
Truce terms
Mr. Hochstein, who has facilitated multiple rounds of unproductive ceasefire negotiations over the past year, expressed optimism last week regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement.
Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stated that Lebanon had submitted its official response to the US ambassador in the nation today.
Hezbollah, a heavily armed faction supported by Iran, has backed its longtime ally Berri in discussions about a ceasefire.
“All comments we presented affirm a strict adherence to UN Resolution 1701 in all its provisions,” remarked Mr. Khalil.
The success of the initiative now lies with Israel, according to Mr. Khalil. He added that if Israel is not interested in a resolution, “it could create 100 problems.”
No immediate response from Israel was received regarding Lebanon’s latest diplomatic assessment.
Earlier today, Mr. Berri expressed a belief in a positive atmosphere surrounding the negotiations but warned against premature optimism, as mentioned by Labour Minister Mustafa Bayram after their meeting.
Since the onset of hostilities, Israel’s campaign has resulted in the deaths of 3,481 individuals in Lebanon, the majority occurring since late September, according to Lebanese authorities. These figures do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
Hezbollah’s attacks have led to 43 civilian deaths in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while 73 soldiers have been killed in incidents across northern Israel, the Golan Heights, and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli sources.
