Israeli PM orders strikes on Beirut suburbs as Hezbollah conflict escalates
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh will be targeted 'in response to attacks on Israeli civilians'. Thousands of residents are fleeing the area as the EU and UN repeated their ceasefire calls.
BBC Middle EastAccording to BBC Middle East, Netanyahu said after a security cabinet meeting that Dahieh 'will face large-scale air strikes in the coming hours'. Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari said a one-hour civilian-evacuation corridor was being provided. Lebanese Health Ministry spokesperson Joe Bahout said the death toll could rise as strikes begin.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued a statement saying 'we are requesting an urgent UN Security Council session'. Hezbollah's al-Manar broadcaster reported 165 rockets fired at northern Israeli settlements in the past 48 hours; the claim was not independently verified by Al Jazeera. International Crisis Group analyst Heiko Wimmen said the conflict could 'turn the entire border into a soft corridor'.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on Monday and said 'individual sanctions proposals will be on the table'. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Joyce Msuya repeated calls for the protection of civilians. Türkiye Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said ceasefire diplomacy is 'unavoidable for the protection of the entire region'.
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