Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah traded deadly blows yesterday as their war raged on, despite signs of progress in US ceasefire efforts, with airstrikes pounding Beirut’s southern suburbs and rockets flying into northern Israel.
US mediator Amos Hochstein was in Israel for talks with Israeli officials to try to secure a ceasefire, which he said was “within our grasp” during a visit to Beirut earlier this week.
The diplomacy marks the most serious attempt yet to end the conflict between Israel and the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah, part of the regional spillover of the Gaza war that erupted more than a year ago.
Photo: Reuters
In southern Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike killed three people in the village of Chaaitiyeh, about 10km from the border, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said.
In Israel, a 30-year-old man was killed when shrapnel from a rocket struck a playground in the northern town of Nahariya, Israel’s Magen David Adom medical service said.
“The Israeli government is not safeguarding my security, my residents or the residents of the north [of Israel]. It is not possible to live in such a situation like this,” Nahariya Mayor Ronen Marelly told public broadcaster Kan.
The Israeli military said about 10 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward Nahariya.
“Most of the projectiles were intercepted and fallen projectiles were identified,” the military said in a statement.
Channel 12 said three rockets hit the coastal town.
White House envoy Hochstein left for Israel after declaring progress during two days of talks in Lebanon with officials including Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, endorsed to negotiate by the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Speaking before he left Beirut, Hochstein said he was going to Israel to try to close an agreement if possible.
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