Israel launches missile strikes on Beirut for the first time in days, ignoring pressure from the US over its conduct
Daily MailIsrael has launched a series of missile strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut for the first time in six days - as it faced pressure from the US over aid to Gaza. The country's military aimed the attacks on south Beirut today, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the idea of a ceasefire in Lebanon that would leave Hezbollah close to Israel's border. Israel has launched a series of missile strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut for the first time in six days - smoke was seen rising above buildings in the city's southern suburbs Israeli's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, has rejected the idea of a ceasefire in Lebanon that would leave Hezbollah close to his country's border US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, seen speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Laos last Friday, has urged Israel to allow more aid in to Gaza Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli military have insisted there must be a buffer zone along Israel's border with Lebanon where there is no presence of Hezbollah fighters. Today's air strikes on Dahiyeh, in the south of Lebanon's capital Beirut, were Israel's first on the country for six days In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Netanyahu said he was 'opposed to a unilateral ceasefire, which does not change the security situation in Lebanon' Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli military have insisted there must be a buffer zone along Israel's border with Lebanon where there is no presence of Hezbollah fighters Asked about Israeli air strikes in Lebanon in which residential buildings in central Beirut were hit last Thursday, the US State Department voiced open criticism.