Israel’s prime minister has ordered attacks on the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, as its conflict with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah escalates.
Benjamin Netanyahu said “terror targets” in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh would be struck in response to its rocket and drone attacks on Israeli civilians and other violations of a ceasefire announced in April that has failed to end the fighting.
Soon afterwards, there were traffic jams on roads out of the suburbs as many families tried to flee to safety.
A senior Lebanese government official said it was relying on US mediation efforts to pressure Israel to end its own violations and prevent further civilian casualties.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed a plan for “gradual de-escalation” to Netanyahu and Lebanon’s president, according to an American official.
