Israel strikes Beirut again after 29 killed in multi-storey building

Israel’s military once again bombed buildings near the Lebanese capital Beirut on Sunday, a day after one of its strikes on a densely populated area in central Beirut killed at least 29 people, according to the latest tally from Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

A dpa reporter counted at least eight loud explosions late on Sunday after several evacuation calls by the Israeli military to residents of the suburbs known as Dahieh. There was initially no details on possible damage or casualties.

Despite new efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon, the armed clashes between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and Israel’s military have escalated in recent days.

The Shiite militia meanwhile fired around 250 rockets at targets in Israel. In the south of Lebanon, fierce fighting broke out around the town of Khiam as Israel’s air force intensified its attacks over the weekend.

An alert had been in place in many regions in Israel since Sunday, not only in the north of Israel, but also in the centre of the country and in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv.

According to the Magen David Adom rescue service, at least six people were injured. In Petach Tikwa, east of Tel Aviv, houses were damaged. Sirens were heard again there in the evening.

84 killed across Lebanon on Saturday

At least 84 people were killed and 213 injured across Lebanon on Saturday, the country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Of those, 29 were killed when a powerful Israeli airstrike flattened a multi-storey building in Beirut’s Basta district, not far from the parliament and the government palace. Another 67 people were injured, the ministry said, adding that the toll could increase as rubble continues to be removed.

On Sunday, the Lebanese Army said one of its soldiers died and 18 others were injured in an Israeli attack on a military centre in southern Lebanon.

The army added in a statement on the social media platform X that the attack had targeted the outpost in the al-Amiriya area near the coastal city of Tyre.

The army did not specify the nature of the attack but said that the site was heavily damaged as a result.

Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that the post had come under Israeli artillery shelling and its depots caught fire as a result. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

EU’s Borrell: More pressure needed for ceasefire

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire repeatedly since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Israel launched a ground offensive to root the militia out of southern Lebanon in September.

The Lebanese army, however, remains neutral in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah, but has recently found itself caught between in the crossfire.

Several Lebanese soldiers have already been killed since fighting between Hezbollah and Israel intensified in September.

EU chief Josep Borrell has called for more pressure to be put on Israel and Hezbollah to achieve a ceasefire during a visit to the Lebanese capital.

Leaders “need to increase pressure on Israel & Hezbollah to agree to the US proposal for a ceasefire,” Borrell wrote on X on Sunday after meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss “urgent key steps to stop the conflict.”

“The Israeli army has erased 37 entire villages in South Lebanon & continues to drop 1-ton bombs on central Beirut,” he said. This must stop, as must Hezbollah’s attacks on Israeli communities, Borrell added.

The US has been pushing for a ceasefire between the Shiite militia and Israel for weeks. Its mediator, Amos Hochstein, travelled to Lebanon and Israel again this week for negotiations.

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