Beirut Under Siege: Israel's Strategic Airstrikes Amid Diplomatic Deadlock

Early Friday morning, Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, targeting Hezbollah facilities amid ongoing conflicts with Iranian-backed groups. Efforts for a ceasefire, driven by U.S.-led diplomacy, are stalled, adding pressure ahead of U.S. elections. Lebanese authorities report a significant escalation in casualties over the past five weeks.

In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Israel unleashed a series of powerful airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs early Friday morning, marking the first attack on the urban area in days. These strikes followed evacuation orders issued to local residents, according to reports by Reuters witnesses.

The Israeli military has consistently claimed that the target of their repeated airstrikes are Hezbollah facilities and assets. This assertion aligns with Israel's longstanding conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, a struggle that has intensified over the past month.

Additionally, efforts for a ceasefire, primarily driven by U.S.-led diplomacy, appear to be faltering. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that while Israel and Lebanon are moving towards an agreement concerning U.N. resolution 1701, time is running short with U.S. elections looming. Meanwhile, the conflict in Lebanon has claimed around 2,800 lives over the past year, with a notable surge in casualties reported in recent weeks.

(With inputs from agencies.)