Amid Israeli devastating strikes in Lebanon, a Democratic lawmaker in US called on President Donald Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the bombardment there.
BEIRUT — Israeli attacks continued in the Lebanese capital early on Thursday, with a massive explosion heard after an Israeli airstrike targeted a southern suburb of Beirut.
Lebanon’s state news agency said the strike hit a residential building in the Shiyyah area in the southern suburb of Dahyeh.
No casualties were immediately reported.
Late Wednesday, Israeli warplanes struck the Lailaki-Kafaat area in southern Beirut, with the blast heard across the capital.
Earlier in the day, at least 254 people were killed and 1,165 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon, including Beirut, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense
The Lebanese Health Ministry said the overall death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 1,739 with 5,873 others injured.
The Israeli army said around 50 fighter jets took part in a large-scale operation targeting Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon under what it called Operation Eternal Darkness.
It said nearly 100 targets were struck with around 160 munitions within 10 minutes.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the military would continue striking Lebanon “without pause,” vowing to keep targeting the Hezbollah group and use every opportunity to strengthen what he described as security in northern Israel.
The attacks came despite a US-Iran ceasefire agreement announced Wednesday.
While Iranian and Pakistani officials said the agreement also covered Lebanon, Israel insisted that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire.
Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire that took effect in November 2024.
US lawmaker urges Trump to push Netanyahu to halt Lebanon strikes
A Democratic lawmaker on Wednesday criticised ongoing violence in Lebanon and called on President Donald Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the bombardment there.
“Netanyahu’s ongoing bombardment of Lebanon, which has killed civilians for weeks, threatens to plunge the region into even further chaos & unravel the ceasefire,” Rep. Jim McGovern said on US social media company X.
His remarks came right after more than 250 people were killed during Israel’s strikes on Lebanon.
The US and Iran announced a two-week truce on Tuesday aimed at paving the way for a final agreement to end a war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran on Feb. 28, which has left thousands dead and wounded.
Although the key mediator Pakistan said the truce includes Lebanon, both the US and Israel said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.
McGovern called on Trump to “stand up to Netanyahu.”
“He needs to save the deal he negotiated. He has leverage. He should use it!” the lawmaker said.
Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire that took effect in November 2024. — Anadolu Agency
