Israeli attacks kill nine in Lebanon, reach Beirut outskirts

Israel has continued to wage fierce attacks across Lebanon, including near the capital, Beirut, killing nine people and injuring others, even as US-mediated talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials progress in Washington.

The Israeli attacks on Wednesday struck at least 10 vehicles, in one case directly targeting an ambulance, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, and in another occurring just several kilometres south of Beirut, the country’s state media reported.

Among the victims of the Israeli strikes were two medics in the municipality of Chehour and another six people near the coastal city of Tyre, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

A Lebanese soldier was also killed while travelling on a road in the south, said the Lebanese army.

The attack in the Khaldeh area on the southern outskirts of Beirut injured two people, according to Lebanese security sources quoted by the Reuters news agency.

“What we’ve been seeing over the past hours has been an escalation,” said Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem from Beirut. “This is taking us back to square one.”

Also reporting from the Lebanese capital, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr said the Israeli strike near Beirut was fueling concern that “there is no front line in this ongoing conflict.”

“Lebanon has been insisting that Israel abide by a full ceasefire, something the Israeli government is refusing to accept,” said Khodr.