Israeli forces struck Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday whilst Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel, including a drone allegedly aimed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s holiday home, his spokesman said.
The escalation coincided with Palestinian health officials reporting that Israeli strikes had killed more than 30 people across Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas for over a year.
In Gaza, Israel tightened its siege around hospitals in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Residents and medical officials reported Israeli forces were bombing houses and blocking medical and food supplies.
Israel says its operations in Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, aim to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping.
The Israeli military reported killing Hezbollah’s deputy commander of the Bint Jbeil area on Friday and seizing weapons including anti-tank missiles.
Hezbollah claimed at least 20 attacks on Israeli military targets on Saturday, all using rocket salvos. Israeli police said some rockets were intercepted, but one hit a residential building in northern Israel.
Israeli media later published a video of Netanyahu walking in a park, stating: “Nothing will deter us, we will keep going until victory.”
The ongoing hostilities have dashed hopes that the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar might hasten an end to the conflict.
Since the war began, more than 2,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly in the past month, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israeli authorities report 59 deaths in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.
In Gaza, Palestinian officials say the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 42,500 deaths and left most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people homeless.
Negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal have been stalled for weeks, despite calls from Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, for renewed efforts following Sinwar’s death.
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