Israeli military says Hezbollah targets struck in Beirut

Israeli military says Hezbollah targets struck in Beirut 3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Hugo Bachega , Middle East correspondent, Beirut and Jaroslav Lukiv BBC's Hugo Bachega at site of fatal Israeli strike on Beirut An Israeli air strike on the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut has put further pressure on attempts for a US-Iran deal to end the war, although Donald Trump says a truce remains close. The attack on Dahieh, where the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah is based, came after the US said a deal with Iran would be signed on Sunday. Israel said the attack was in response to Hezbollah firing towards northern Israel. The strike opens the possibility of further hostilities, as Iran vowed to respond by attacking Israel. Trump said the attack "should not have happened particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran". "This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace - Let's not blow it!" the US president added. At least three people were killed and 15 others injured in the strike, Lebanon's state media said. Iran has insisted that any truce should also include the end of the war in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the militia and political party Hezbollah. Israeli officials, however, reject this, saying the military operations must continue. Since the start of this round of conflict in March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel, the Israeli military has carried out extensive air strikes across Lebanon and an invasion of the south of the country. Israeli officials say the goal is to protect communities from Hezbollah's rockets and drones. In Israel, where there is public support for the war to continue, a consensus seems to have emerged that the potential US-Iran deal could represent a setback for the country, as its military successes against Iran and Hezbollah do not appear to have been translated into what could be seen as a strategic victory. Based on leaks of the deal, an Israeli military official described it as "very bad" and "catastrophic" to the country's Ma'ariv newspaper. An Israeli defence official told N12 TV channel that "none of the goals set by Israel have received an immediate response in the agreement". The Lebanese government has also tried to disassociate the situation in the country from Iran, to reduce Tehran's influence domestically and weaken Hezbollah, as part of efforts to disarm the group. The Israeli military said the attack on Dahieh targeted what it described as a command centre used by Hezbollah after the group launched "aerial targets toward Israel". In his social media post, President Trump said: "Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless, nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and should not disrupt this important process". He also said "there should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other pa