Dramatic video shows an Israeli air strike destroying high-rise flats in a Beirut suburb in seconds as its military continued to trade blows with Hezbollah despite a renewed US push for ceasefire talks in the Middle East.
Residents watched as a projectile slammed into the bottom of the multistorey building in Ghobeiry in southern Beirut which then collapsed to the ground, a huge plume of gray smoke rising and debris flying after the strike.
The building was hit hours after another Israeli strike near Beirut’s main hospital killed at least 18 people, including four children.
It came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday and met the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in an effort to revive ceasefire talks before the US election.
Mr Blinken’s visit to Israel is focused on ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and alleviating the suffering of Palestinian civilians, according to the US State Department.
A High-Rise Building in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut was Leveled earlier by an Israeli Airstrike, after being ordered to Evacuate. pic.twitter.com/LRtBoD87KG
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 22, 2024
His 11th trip to the region since the conflict erupted follows the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, believed to be the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks in Israel which triggered its war in Gaza. Washington hopes his death could bring an opportunity for peace.
Mr Blinken’s meeting with Mr Netanyahu lasted for more two hours on Tuesday afternoon. He is also expected to meet with President Isaac Herzog, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer.
Israeli officials are reportedly considering an Egyptian proposal for a two-week ceasefire with Hamas aimed at building momentum for a larger deal, according to NBC News.
The Egyptian proposal calls for the release of six Israeli hostages in exchange for the temporary truce, the official said. The plan was suggested by Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, who became the new head of Egyptian intelligence last week, but it is unclear if Hamas would be open to it.
A US official told NBC News it did not know who was in charge of Hamas and could negotiate on its behalf following Israel’s killing of Sinwar last week.
Mr Blinken’s week-long trip will pass through Israel, Jordan and Qatar. US officials have said he is looking into plans for rebuilding and governing Gaza after the war, a key subject of ceasefire talks.
Blinken was expected to discuss Israel’s anticipated retaliation for a ballistic missile attack launched by Iran on 1 October, according to a senior US State Department official. Allies fear Israel’s response could ignite a full-blown war between the two countries and hit oil markets.
Despite the killing of Sinwar, Israel has so far shown no signs of relenting as it continued its airstrikes in Lebanon to target Iran-backed group Hezbollah and an offensive in northern Gaza targeting Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Hezbollah said there would be no negotiations while fighting continues and launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel on Tuesday, setting off air raid sirens in the country’s most populated areas but causing no apparent damage or injuries.
Hezbollah said it had targeted military targets near Haifa and Tel Aviv in Israel.
The Israeli military said five projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel and said most were intercepted by Israel’s missile defence system. One landed in an open area.
Hezbollah took credit for the weekend drone attack that targeted the Israeli Prime Minister’s house without inflicting casualties and suggested that similar attacks could follow.
Yemen’s Houthis, which are allies of Iran, said they had targeted an Israeli military base in Tel Aviv using ballistic missiles in solidarity with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel stepped up its strikes in Lebanon, levelling a building in the southern suburb of Beirut on Tuesday. A spokeperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it contained “Hezbollah facilities”.
Airstrikes near Lebanon’s largest public hospital on Monday night left at least 18 people dead – including four children – and 57 injured, according to Lebanese health authorities.
Several buildings facing the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, which is the main government hospital in the south of Beirut, were destroyed.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it struck a Hezbollah target and had not targeted the hospital itself.
The Israeli military said the hospital was not affected, but Lebanese health officials said it suffered significant damage.
Human rights group Amnesty International said Israel’s targeting of branches of a Hezbollah-linked financial institution this week “likely violates international humanitarian law”.
Amnesty said the attack on al-Qard al-Hassan must be investigated as a war crime because financial institutions are considered civilian infrastructure under the laws of war unless they are being used for military purposes.
Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty’s senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns: “Even if as the Israeli military alleges, the institution does provide financing to Hezbollah, it is not likely to meet the definition of a military objective, particularly for branches serving civilian customers.”
