(Updated with details and context)
The Israeli army carried out a large attack on Tuesday against targets linked to Hezbollah in Beirut and the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, hours before the expected announcement of a ceasefire intended to end the conflict between Israel and the armed Shiite movement.
An Israeli airstrike hit the Noueiri neighborhood, without an evacuation order having been issued, and killed at least one person, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced in a provisional report.
A few minutes later, at least ten simultaneous strikes hit the suburbs located south of Beirut where evacuation orders had been issued for 20 localities in the area.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said the air force was carrying out a “large-scale attack” on Hezbollah targets in and around Beirut.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the continuation of operations in Lebanon, his spokesperson said.
These strikes come as several Israeli and Lebanese officials estimated that a ceasefire was imminent between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Israeli government due to examine a proposal to this effect from 2:00 p.m. GMT.
The meeting could last up to three hours and the ceasefire text is expected to be approved, a senior Israeli official said.
This would pave the way for a ceasefire declaration that could be announced by French President Emmanuel Macron and his US counterpart Joe Biden, four senior Lebanese sources reported on Monday.
(Written by Menna Alaa with Steven Scheer in Cairo; French version Blandine Hénault; edited by Augustin Turpin)
