Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati yesterday accused Israel of rejecting a ceasefire after the Israeli military bombed the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut for the first time this week.
At least 10 airstrikes hit the southern suburbs before dawn after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings, with AFPTV footage showing explosions and clouds of smoke.
“The raids left massive destruction in the targeted areas, as dozens of buildings were leveled to the ground, in addition to the outbreak of fires,” Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, adding that strikes also targeted Aley, southeast of the capital, and Bint Jbeil in the country’s south.
Photo: AFP
The Israeli military said it continued operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and its Palestinian ally Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US officials to discuss a possible deal to end the war in Lebanon.
Mikati condemned the “expansion” of Israel’s attacks, saying they signaled a refusal to engage in truce efforts.
“The Israeli enemy’s renewed expansion ... and its renewed targeting of the southern suburbs of Beirut with destructive raids are all indicators that confirm the Israeli enemy’s rejection of all efforts being made to secure a ceasefire,” he said.
Analysts say Israel’s campaign in Lebanon has put it in a position of strength to reach a deal.
On Thursday, Netanyahu told US envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any deal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah must guarantee Israel’s long-term security.
The pair had since left for Washington, a source familiar with the matter said.
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, who also met with the envoys, emphasized “security arrangements” related to Lebanon and efforts to ensure the return of 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
A US-brokered plan reportedly under consideration would see Hezbollah withdraw 30km north to the northern side of the Litani River, with Israeli forces pulling back and the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, taking over the border.
Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming itself with imported weapons, while Israel would retain its rights under international law to act in self-defense.
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