Israel-Lebanon live: Israeli strike kills 22 in central Beirut attack ‘but misses senior Hezbollah target’
It comes after an Israeli airstrike on school housing displaced people in Gaza killed 28 and injured 54 others
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At least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded as Israel launched fresh airstrikes on central Beirut, Lebanon’s health ministry has said.
The first strike on Thursday evening appeared to target an eight-story apartment block in Ras al-Nabaa, with witnesses reporting continued explosions within the building as a large emergency response rushed to the scene.
The second strike, in the area of Burj Abi Haidar, is reported to have collapsed an entire building. It was later seen engulfed in flames.
Israel has not previously struck the area, which is removed from Beirut’s southern suburbs where Hezbollah’s headquarters have been repeatedly bombed by Israel.
It did not issue evacuation warnings ahead of the strikes either, which were the deadliest attack on central Beirut since the beginning of the hostilities.
A senior Hezbollah official who was reportedly the target of the strikes nevertheless survived, according to three Lebanese security sources.
The sources said Wafiq Safa, who heads Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit responsible for working with Lebanese security agencies, was the target of the strikes.
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US and France leading ceasefire charge, Mikati says
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati says the United States and France are trying to revive a ceasefire deal for the Middle East.
“There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions,” he is quoted as saying, according to Reuters.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah yesterday supported calls for a ceasefire, and dropped a Gaza truce from their ceasefire conditions.
“We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively,” Deputy Secretery General Naim Qassem said.
But Israel’s invasion of Lebanon continues, and Netanyahu told the people of Hezbollah to throw out Hezbollah if they want to avoid the “destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza”.
Pictured: Site of Israeli strike which killed five health workers
As we reported earlier, five health workers were killed by Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya, according to Lebanese authorities.
Here are some pictures of the scene at the Civil Defence emergency centre.
Israel needs to address ‘catastrophic conditions’ in Gaza, US says
The US has called on Israel to urgently address the “catastrophic conditions” in Gaza and stop “intensifying suffering” by limiting the delivery of aid.
Speaking to the UN security council, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “These catastrophic conditions were predicted months ago, and yet, have still not been addressed. That must change, and now.”
Ms Thomas-Greenfield added that there must be “no demographic or territorial change” in the Gaza strip, The Guardian reported.
Israeli tanks attacked northern Gaza with force this week, stating they were preventing Hamas from regrouping.
Five Lebanese health workers killed by Israeli strike, authorities say
Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya have killed five health workers, according to authorities.
The total number of health workers is now 115 since Israel began its bombardment and subsequent invasion last month, the BBC reports.
A makeshift emergency response centre in a church hall was hit by an Israeli strike, killing at least five, with more possible under the rubble.
The Lebanese government says such attacks violate the laws of war.
More than 42,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, Gaza health ministry says
More than 42,065 Palestinians have been killed and 97,886 injured in Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Gaza since October 7, when Hamas carried out attacks in souther Israel, Gaza’s health ministry said on Thursday.
On Thursday, 28 people were killed and 54 injured in a major airstrike on a school in Gaza, which Israel says was targeting Hamas militants.
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