### Escalating Conflict Sees Deadly Israeli Airstrikes in Beirut

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israeli airstrikes on Saturday targeted central Beirut, claiming at least 15 lives and injuring 63, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The lethal attacks mark the fourth such strike in less than a week on Lebanon's capital, amid frantic international attempts to negotiate a cease-fire.

These ongoing hostilities come in the wake of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein's visit to the region, aiming to quell the violence between Israel and Hezbollah that has intensified into a full-scale war. The conflict has resulted in over 3,500 deaths in Lebanon and has displaced approximately 1.2 million people. On the Israeli side, casualties include about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians.

A pre-dawn strike at 4 a.m. demolished an eight-story building in Beirut, though Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri confirmed no party officials were present. The attack left destruction in its wake, damaging nearby buildings and vehicles. "The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging," said Walid Al-Hashash from the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Moreover, a drone strike in the southern port city of Tyre killed two Palestinian refugees and injured three others. The victims, affiliated with the Fatah Palestinian faction, were reportedly fishing despite prior warnings from Israel to avoid Lebanon's southern coast.

The violence has not spared Lebanon's other regions. Separate airstrikes resulted in the deaths of eight people in Shmustar, five in Roumin, and another five in Budai.

Diplomatic efforts to broker peace have been fraught with challenges. A proposed cease-fire deal includes a two-month cessation of hostilities, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon while requiring Hezbollah to retreat from the southern border. However, unresolved issues remain, such as Israel's demand for guarantees against Hezbollah rearming at the border, which Lebanon views as a violation of its sovereignty.

In Gaza, the situation has grown dire, with at least 80 fatalities recorded between Thursday and Friday. The Palestinian death toll has reached over 44,000 as the conflict rages on. The war that started on October 7, 2023, with Hamas-led militants' incursion into southern Israel, continues to wreak havoc, displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Global reactions have varied in response to the International Criminal Court's recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. While the U.K. supports the court, it has not committed to arresting Netanyahu. The U.S. and Russia have rejected the court's jurisdiction.

As the conflict drags on, the impact on both civilian and combatant lives continues to escalate, with little respite in sight.