An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut killed five people and wounded 31 on Monday, marking the second consecutive day of strikes in the city. The attack comes as Lebanon and Hezbollah agree to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire with Israel. Tel Aviv is yet to respond.
An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on Monday killed at least five people, marking the second consecutive day of Israeli bombardment in the Lebanese capital. The attack targeted the densely populated Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhood, close to the Lebanese government’s headquarters. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that 31 others were injured, with two more individuals reported missing. At least 3,500 people have been killed in Lebanon so far according to reports.
Over the past week, Israel has escalated its airstrikes in and around Beirut, while Hezbollah has launched several rocket and drone attacks targeting Israeli military sites.
As the fighting rages on, Lebanon and Hezbollah have agreed to a U.S.-led ceasefire proposal with Israel a top Lebanese official told Reuters on Monday, describing the effort as the most serious yet to end the fighting.
Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, said Lebanon had delivered its written response to the U.S. ambassador in Lebanon on Monday, and White House envoy Amos Hochstein was travelling to Beirut to continue talks.
"Lebanon presented its comments on the paper in a positive atmosphere," Khalil said, declining to give further details. "All the comments that we presented affirm the precise adherence to (U.N.) Resolution 1701 with all its provisions," he said.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
However, a diplomat familiar with the negotiations warned that final details still need to be resolved, which could delay a full agreement. The ceasefire plan is expected to align with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution mandates Hezbollah to relocate its fighters and weapons north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Israel’s recent operations began in late September, following a year of escalating hostilities with Hezbollah. The Israeli military has focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s capabilities, conducting airstrikes across Lebanon, and deploying ground forces in southern Lebanon. In the latest escalation, Israel’s airstrikes on Beirut on Sunday killed 10 people, including a senior Hezbollah media official.
On Monday, a rocket fired from Lebanon struck a building in the Israeli town of Shfaram, killing an Israeli citizen. The Israeli military confirmed that at least five rockets were fired from Lebanon.
The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire, with hopes for a diplomatic resolution as both sides remain entrenched in the ongoing conflict.
A Hezbollah official says the group will not act independently in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, expressing solidarity with Tehran but stopping short of direct retaliation.
The Lebanese government has firmly warned Hezbollah against participating in Iran’s retaliation against Israel, signaling a sharp rebuke of any unilateral military action by the group.
The U.S. has pressured Lebanon to act against Hezbollah, urging the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to enforce a ceasefire. The LAF, caught between U.S. demands and Hezbollah’s influence, risks losing vital U.S. support if it fails to act.
Tensions rise along the Lebanon-Syria border after the abduction and killing of Syrian security forces. Syria accuses Hezbollah of orchestrating the attack, while the group denies involvement. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation are underway.
Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s energy sector for the first time in its current military campaign, hitting installations at the South Pars gas field, a major fuel depot in Tehran, and a nearby oil refinery.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air show for reportedly displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
A community event turned deadly in West Valley City, Utah as gunfire erupted during a local carnival, killing three people, including an eight-month-old baby and injuring two teens, after a dispute between two groups escalated.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
An Air India flight with 242 passengers on board crashed in Meghaninagar, close to Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, on Thursday afternoon.
India expects to conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his visit to Cyprus.
Türkiye’s current account balance registered a deficit of $7.8 billion in April, according to data released Monday by the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), marking a wider-than-expected shortfall amid a sharp goods trade imbalance.
Thousands of tourists in Israel find themselves stranded as escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has forced flight cancellations and city lockdowns, turning short vacations into uncertain, prolonged stays.
Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Monday, marking 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty amid growing global interest in the polar region.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s energy sector for the first time in its current military campaign, hitting installations at the South Pars gas field, a major fuel depot in Tehran, and a nearby oil refinery.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air show for reportedly displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
A community event turned deadly in West Valley City, Utah as gunfire erupted during a local carnival, killing three people, including an eight-month-old baby and injuring two teens, after a dispute between two groups escalated.
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