Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered new strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut as tensions with Hezbollah continue to rise.
He said the attacks would target Hezbollah positions in Dahieh. According to Netanyahu, the strikes are a response to attacks on Israeli civilians and repeated breaches of a US-brokered ceasefire announced in April. However, fighting between the two sides has continued despite the agreement.
A senior Lebanese official said the government is relying on US mediation efforts to pressure Israel to stop its own violations and prevent more civilian casualties.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A US official said Rubio proposed that Lebanese authorities should encourage Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel. In return, Israel would avoid expanding military action in Beirut.
The proposal is intended to lower tensions and create conditions for a gradual end to the conflict. Meanwhile, Israeli troops crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon and seized the historic Beaufort Castle.
The 900 year old fortress sits on a strategically important ridge in the region. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military campaign was not over and stressed that Israel remained determined to weaken Hezbollah.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of carrying out a scorched earth policy and collective punishment.
Lebanon became involved in the conflict on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel. The group said the attack was in response to an Israeli strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel later launched air strikes across Lebanon and followed them with a ground operation.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 3,371 people have been killed since the conflict began. The ministry’s figures do not separate civilians from fighters. Israel says 24 soldiers and four civilians have also been killed during the fighting on both sides of the border.
