Israel launches deadly strike near Beirut as it widens offensive in Lebanon
Escalating hostilities in Lebanon strain a fragile ceasefire ahead of crucial negotiations in Washington
Israel pounded south Lebanon with deadly strikes and widened its offensive with the first raid near Beirut in weeks where authorities said a woman and two children were killed despite a ceasefire.
The attack near the capital came after heavy strikes on south Lebanon that authorities said had killed at least 14 people, including three children.
The escalation comes as Lebanon and Israel prepare for talks between military delegations at the Pentagon on Friday, and for US-brokered talks early next week – the fourth round since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted.
A Lebanese military source said a flat in the Choueifat area south of Beirut was hit, in the second such raid since the truce in the war between Israel and militant group Hezbollah came into effect on April 17, after war broke out in early March.
Israel’s military said it “precisely struck in Beirut”, without identifying the target.
Lebanon’s health ministry said the strike killed three people “including a woman and her baby daughter, and a child of Syrian nationality” and wounded 15 other people, including three children and five women.