Israel intensifies attacks on Lebanon but claims ceasefire deal ‘close’

After erstwhile hopes for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire were dashed, US officials pass that negotiations are not complete.

Israel’s subject launched aerial attacks crossed Lebanon connected Monday, unleashing explosions passim the state and sidesplitting astatine slightest a twelve people, adjacent arsenic officials claimed they were nearing an agreement connected a ceasefire betwixt Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli attacks deed commercialized and residential buildings successful Beirut connected Monday arsenic good arsenic successful the larboard metropolis of Tyre, wherever 12 radical were killed – adding to the much than 3,700 radical successful Lebanon who person been killed by Israeli attacks successful this two-month war.

Israeli officials said they targeted areas known arsenic Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut’s confederate suburbs, and attacks landed crossed the city, including metres from a Lebanese constabulary basal and the city’s largest nationalist park.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Beirut connected Monday, said Israeli attacks crossed Lebanon successful caller days were “more powerful, much destructive, much predominant and happening much often without informing – leaving radical nary clip to get retired of the mode of Israeli missiles and drones”.

The barrages came arsenic the Israeli ambassador to the United States said a ceasefire woody to extremity warring betwixt Israel and Lebanese radical Hezbollah could beryllium reached “within days”.

Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio connected Monday that determination stay “points to finalise” and immoderate woody requires statement from the government. But helium said, “We are adjacent to a deal”.

Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s information furniture was acceptable to convene connected Tuesday to sermon a projected ceasefire.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Israel would support an quality to onslaught confederate Lebanon nether immoderate agreement. Lebanon has antecedently objected to wording that would assistance Israel specified a right.

The US has pushed for a woody to extremity implicit a twelvemonth of hostilities betwixt Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, which erupted successful parallel with Israel’s warfare against Hamas successful Gaza and has drastically escalated implicit the past 2 months.

In Beirut, Elias Bou Saab, Lebanon’s lawman parliament speaker, told the Reuters quality bureau determination were “no superior obstacles” near to commencement implementing a US-proposed ceasefire with Israel, “unless Netanyahu changes his mind”.

He said the connection would entail an Israeli subject withdrawal from southbound Lebanon and regular Lebanese soldiers deploying successful the borderline region, agelong a Hezbollah stronghold, wrong 60 days.

A sticking constituent connected who would show compliance with the ceasefire had been resolved successful the past 24 hours with an statement to acceptable up a five-country committee that includes France and is chaired by the US, helium said.

But Bou Saab besides accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment successful bid to unit Lebanon to marque concessions successful indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah due to the fact that “we are adjacent to the hr that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire”.

After erstwhile hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, US officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet implicit and noted that determination could beryllium last-minute hitches that either hold oregon destruct an agreement.

“We person made important advancement with getting towards a resolution,” US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. “But we are not done yet. Nothing is last until everything is final.”

The French presidency reported “significant progress” successful talks connected a ceasefire and urged Israel and Hezbollah to “seize this opportunity”.

One far-right subordinate of Netanyahu’s information cabinet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said helium would reason it. He said connected X that a woody with Lebanon would beryllium a “big mistake” and a “missed historical accidental to eradicate Hezbollah”.

But hostilities proceed to intensify contempt the reported diplomatic progress. Over the weekend, Israel carried retired almighty attacks, 1 of which killed astatine slightest 29 radical successful cardinal Beirut, portion Hezbollah unleashed 1 of its biggest rocket salvos yet connected Sunday, firing 250 missiles into Israel.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks since October 2023 person killed 3,768 radical successful Lebanon and forced much than 1 cardinal radical from their homes.

Hezbollah strikes person killed 45 civilians successful bluish Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. At slightest 73 Israeli soldiers person been killed successful bluish Israel, the Golan Heights and successful combat successful confederate Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.

Al Jazeera’s Basravi said that successful past conflicts with Israel, determination had been a surge of unit connected some sides of the border, followed by a cessation.

“People are clinging to the anticipation that this is that moment,” helium said.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies