Israel Strikes Near Beirut as U.S. Envoy Pushes Ahead on Cease-Fire Talks

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes near Beirut, as the U.S. envoy pushes ahead with cease-fire talks in the region. The strikes come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted a weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The strikes reportedly caused a large explosion and sent plumes of smoke into the air. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The airstrikes come as U.S. envoy Hady Amr continues to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the militant group based in Gaza. Amr has been meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to broker a truce and end the violence that has engulfed the region for over a week.

The violence began on May 10, when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Israel in response to clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza, where Hamas is based, leading to the deaths of over 200 Palestinians, including many women and children.

The violence has also spread to other parts of the region, including Lebanon, where tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating in recent days. Israel has accused Hezbollah of firing rockets at Israeli territory, prompting the airstrikes near Beirut.

The U.S. has been working to de-escalate the situation and broker a cease-fire between the warring parties. President Joe Biden has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks, but has also called for a de-escalation of the violence and a return to diplomacy.

The airstrikes near Beirut are likely to further complicate efforts to reach a cease-fire in the region. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate for the strikes, raising fears of further violence and instability in the region.

As the violence continues to escalate, the international community is urging all parties to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The U.S. envoy’s efforts to push ahead with cease-fire talks are seen as a crucial step towards achieving a lasting peace in the region.