Israeli strikes kill dozens in Beirut, Gaza as diplomats push for ceasefire

The escalation in Beirut comes after a U.S. envoy traveled to the region in pursuit of a ceasefire deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli airstrikes Saturday in central Beirut killed at least 15 people, officials said, as the once-rare strikes in the heart of Lebanon’s capital continued without Israeli warning, and as diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-fire.

Dozens were also killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip between Thursday and Friday, including near hospitals, according to local health officials.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 63 people were wounded in the Beirut strikes, the fourth in the central part of the capital in less than a week.

The escalation comes after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region in pursuit of a cease-fire deal to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has erupted into full-on war.

Israeli bombardment has killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardment in northern Israel and the fighting.

The 4 a.m. strikes destroyed an eight-story building in central Beirut. Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside. Some facades were stripped from nearby buildings, and residents watched among crumpled cars.

“The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging,” said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Israel’s military did not comment on the casualties.