Israel intensifies strikes on Hezbollah as ceasefire deal seems close

Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a hotbed of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement, intensified on Monday afternoon, as a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and the militants appeared to be getting closer.

The strikes on Ghobeiry, Haret Hreik and Tayyouneh came after evacuation warnings were issued by the Israeli military.

Videos showed a building of at least eight-storeys levelled to the ground in Tayyouneh. The loud explosion was heard across the city.

A house was hit in Choueifat, an area outside of Hezbollah’s stronghold, without prior warning, Lebanese security sources said.

The Israeli army said it conducted intelligence-based strikes on approximately “25 terror targets belonging to Hezbollah’s Executive Council in Lebanon, including in Nabatieh, Baalbek, Beqaa Valley, Dahieh, and the outskirts of Beirut.”

According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli Cabinet will approve an agreement for a ceasefire with Hezbollah on Tuesday evening. The text of this agreement to end more than a year of hostilities has been fully negotiated, they reported.

Lebanese government officials in Beirut have expressed optimism, but stressed that the decision now rested with Israel.

A current draft ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel envisages full implementation of the deal agreed to at the end of the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Accordingly, the Lebanese army would be stationed in the border area with Israel to prevent Hezbollah fighters from returning.

Hezbollah has been targeting northern Israel with missiles and drones for more than a year in a show of support for allied Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel initially responded to shelling by Hezbollah with counter-attacks, but since September has launched massive airstrikes in the country and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

UN: 45 Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli attacks so far

Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon denounced the attacks by Israel on the Lebanese army during its war with Hezbollah.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said 45 Lebanese army soldiers have been killed so far in Israeli attacks on targets in Lebanon.

“UNIFIL is seriously concerned by numerous strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces inside the Lebanese territories, despite their declared non-involvement in the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel,” a statement said.

Such attacks constitute a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law, UNIFIL said.

The Lebanese army is not an active party in the war between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.