Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more in central Beirut as diplomats rushed to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s health ministry said the death toll in the country’s capital could rise as rescuers search the rubble for survivors. DNA tests are being used to identify the victims, the statement said, adding that 63 people were injured.
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The pre-dawn strikes, which destroyed an eight-story building and left a crater in the ground, were the fourth in Beirut in less than a week.
Climbing comes later US envoy Amos Hochstein visited the region this week in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire agreement to end more than 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hochstein said Tuesday he had “very constructive discussions” with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who mediates on behalf of the group.
“Especially today, we continued to significantly narrow the gaps,” the envoy told reporters after the two-hour meeting. “It is ultimately the decisions of the parties to reach a conclusion to this conflict. …It is now within our reach.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz to discuss ongoing operations and reaffirm America’s “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.” .
In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin also reiterated the United States’ commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that “allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border “.
Israeli bombings have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon and injured more than 15,000, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced around 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the Israeli side, around 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by rockets, drones and missiles in northern Israel and during fighting in Lebanon.
The Israeli military did not issue a warning to residents before the strikes in central Beirut and did not comment on the number of casualties. He warned residents in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday that they resided near Hezbollah facilities, which the army would target in the near future. The warning, posted on X, asked people to evacuate at least 500 meters (yards).
The army said that over the past day it had carried out intelligence-based strikes against Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. It said it hit several command centers and weapons storage facilities.