Israel launched intense assaults against Lebanon right before its security cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah on Tuesday, according to Israeli media.
Israel's security cabinet approved on Tuesday night a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that the ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, was expected to take effect on Wednesday at 04:00 local time (0200 GMT) in Israel and Lebanon.
According to the security department of Lebanon, Israeli army launched several airstrikes against central and southern area of Beirut on Tuesday night, killing at least 10. In addition, areas in southern Lebanon also suffered air attacks.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later said warplanes attacked over 180 Hezbollah targets including command centers, ammunition warehouse and other infrastructure in Beirut, southern Lebanon and Beqaa Valley.
The IDF also said it had hit sites linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, Tyre, the Litani River, the Saluki area, and southern Lebanon, as the conflict continued to escalate.
Early on Wednesday morning after the deal was approved, IDF spokesperson to the Arab world Avichay Adraee again urged residents in southern Beirut suburbs to evacuate and maintain a distance of at least 500 meters from two buildings, which Israeli military claimed as related to Hezbollah.
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the latest round of Israel-Hezbollah conflict has climbed to 3,823, with the number of injuries rising to 15,859, said Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday.
The ministry reported that in the past day alone, 55 people were killed and 160 were injured in the conflict.
Israel launches intense assault on Lebanon ahead of ceasefire implementation
Israel launches intense assault on Lebanon ahead of ceasefire implementation
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to a UN meeting held on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Xi noted that the question of Palestine is the core of the conflict in the Middle East and concerns international fairness and justice.
Xi said that the pressing task for the Palestinian question is to comprehensively and effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to end the war as soon as possible and de-escalate tensions in the region.
The fundamental way out is to implement the two-state solution and promote the political settlement of the Palestinian question, so as to establish an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, and realize Palestinian people's right to survival, statehood and return, Xi said.
Xi said that China has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and has always supported all Palestinian factions to strengthen unity, implement the Beijing declaration on ending division and strengthening Palestinian national unity, and achieve internal reconciliation.
Xi noted that China firmly supports Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference.
Xi said that China will continue to work with the international community to jointly end the fighting and killing, support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza, bring the question of Palestine back to the right track of the two-state solution, and seek an early resolution that is comprehensive, just and durable.
Xi sends congratulations to UN meeting marking Int'l Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People
Xi sends congratulations to UN meeting marking Int'l Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People
