Israeli military says Hezbollah targets struck in Beirut
The Israeli military says it has carried out air strikes against what it describes as Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. The BBC reports the attack came in the final stages of US-Iran negotiations.
According to the BBC, the Israel Defense Forces carried out air strikes against what it said was Hezbollah command and storage infrastructure in Beirut's southern suburbs. Lebanon's health ministry said casualties are being assessed.
Hezbollah said in a statement that the strike should be regarded as an "Israeli escalation step". The Lebanese government has asked for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, while the US State Department called on all sides to show restraint.
Analysts say the timing — coinciding with the final stage of the US-Iran nuclear negotiations — is striking. Brent crude is trading above $84 and regional equity markets are broadly flat. This is not investment advice.
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