Israel Strikes Across Lebanon After Ordering Evacuations of Southern Towns
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The wide-scale bombardment continued a day after a U.S. envoy held talks with Israeli officials on a possible cease-fire with Hezbollah militants.
By Euan Ward and Liam Stack
Euan Ward reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Liam Stack from Tel Aviv.
Israel pressed on with its bombardment of Lebanon on Friday after issuing widespread evacuation warnings in the country’s south, as the conflict with Hezbollah militants showed no sign of abating despite a U.S.-led push for a cease-fire.
Some of the Israeli strikes, which came as Lebanon celebrated its independence day, hit near the southern port city of Tyre, following calls by the Israeli military for civilians to evacuate entire towns in the area and flee more than 20 miles north.
Bombings also targeted the Dahiya, the area near Beirut that is in effect controlled by Hezbollah and has been hit hard in recent days.
Lebanon’s health ministry said two separate Israeli strikes on Friday killed five paramedics in southern Lebanon. More than 145 Lebanese medical workers have been killed in the line of duty since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began last October, according to the U.N. World Health Organization.
Analysts say Israel’s ramped-up strikes across Lebanon are designed to pressure Hezbollah into agreeing to a cease-fire on terms that are favorable to Israel. Amos Hochstein, the Biden administration’s point man in the quest to end the war, discussed the terms of a possible deal with Israeli officials on Thursday during a visit to Israel.
U.S. and Israeli officials have provided few details in public about the terms of a deal. But an Israeli official said on Friday that there was “cautious optimism” in Israel about the prospect of finalizing the terms in the coming days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.