BEIRUT (AP) – Israeli airstrikes hit a densely populated area near major government and diplomatic facilities in the Lebanese capital late Monday, killing at least five people as the United States presses ahead with ceasefire efforts.
Lebanon’s state news agency said two missiles landed in the Zoqak al-Brat area, where the local United Nations headquarters and the Lebanese parliament and prime minister’s office are located.
Since late September, Israel has dramatically escalated its shelling of Lebanon, significantly weakening the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, which the militants have maintained throughout the period is in solidarity with the Palestinians. He vowed to stop the barrage in Israel. war in gaza.
The United States is working on a cease-fire that would remove Israeli ground forces from Lebanon and drive Hezbollah forces far from Israel’s borders. Navi Berri, speaker of the Lebanese parliament and an ally of Hezbollah, which mediates the militants, is scheduled to meet with US envoy Amos Hochstein in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. The White House has not authorized Hochstein’s visit.
Labor Minister Mostafa Bayram, who spoke with Berri on Monday, said Lebanon would convey its “positive position” to the latest US proposal.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the attack, which injured 24 people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.
Many areas in central Beirut, including Zoqaq al-Brat, are a haven for many of the approximately 1 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Strikes also occurred near the Shiite mosque Hussainieh.
The target of the airstrike remained unclear, and the Israeli military gave no advance warning. Ambulance sirens rang throughout the city, and an Associated Press photographer at the scene saw scores of casualties on the streets.
This marks the second consecutive day of Israeli attacks on central Beirut, after a break of more than a month. On Sunday, an attack in the Ras el-Nabaa region killed Hezbollah media spokesperson Mohamed Afif and six other people, including a woman. Later that day, another strike in the commercial district of Mar Elias left four people dead.
The Israeli military did not say what the target of the attack was.
Minutes after Monday’s strike, Lebanese interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati wrote in a post on 1701 needs to be implemented.”
United Nations Security Council resolution 1701was adopted in 2006 and aimed to end the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah and create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. However, the full implementation of this resolution faces challenges from both sides.
The resolution is back on the table as part of a US proposal for a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 13-month gunfight between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli ground forces that invaded southern Lebanon on October 1st have completely withdrawn from Lebanon, leaving the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force, with exclusive military positions south of the Litani River in Lebanon. Hezbollah will withdraw from the area.
A Western diplomat familiar with the talks told The Associated Press there was an atmosphere of “cautious optimism.” The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes negotiations, said a final agreement was still “in the hands” of the parties to the conflict.
Israel is said to be seeking guarantees that it can continue military action against Hezbollah if necessary, but the Lebanese are unlikely to accept this request. Israeli government spokesman David Mensah said Israel would continue its attacks on Hezbollah’s infrastructure while the United States and other countries led ceasefire negotiations. “Military operations will continue until the immediate threat from Lebanon is removed,” he said.
Also on Monday, Hezbollah fired dozens of projectiles at Israel. A rocket hit the northern Israeli city of Shufaram, killing one woman and injuring 10 others, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom Rescue Team.
More than 3,500 people have died in the Israeli fire, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In Israel, Hezbollah projectiles killed 77 people, including 31 soldiers, and Israeli ground attacks killed more than 50 soldiers.
Israel said it was targeting Hezbollah to allow thousands of Israelis to return to their homelands near the border.
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Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman contributed from Tel Aviv, Israel.
