Israel intensifies attacks in Beirut, Gaza as Lebanon renews appeal for ceasefire

With nearly a year after the Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war, Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Beirut in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region.

A fireball illuminated Beirut’s sky, and smoke billowed from the southern suburbs. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati appealed to the international community to pressure Israel for a ceasefire.

In Gaza, Israel’s military encircled Jabaliya, citing indications Hamas was rebuilding despite devastating airstrikes and fighting.

Palestinian officials said that an Israeli strike on a mosque in the Gaza Strip early Sunday killed at least 19 people.

Displaced people were sheltering at the mosque that was struck near the main hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah. A further four people were killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced people near the town.

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The Israeli military said both strikes targeted militants, without providing evidence.

Israel is still battling Hamas in Gaza a year after the group attacks Israel. It has opened a new front in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has been trading fire with Israel along the border since the war in Gaza began. Israel has also vowed to strike Iran itself after Tehran launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel last week.

The widening conflict risks drawing in the United States, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel, as well as U.S.-allied Arab countries that host American forces. Iran-allied militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have already joined in with long-distance strikes on Israel.

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With inputs from agencies.