Israeli military on Sunday announced that it launched strikes against the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group’s infrastructure ahead of a potential US-Iran peace deal signing.
Smoke was visible above the Lebanese capital, Beirut, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the strikes were in retaliation for Hezbollah’s attacks in northern Israel.
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Official stance from Israeli leadership
Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the development of attacking southern suburbs of Beirut, stating that military “has just struck Hezbollah terror targets” in Dahiyeh in response to Hezbollah “firing at Israeli territory,” AP reported.
“Israel will not tolerate fire directed at its territory,” the statement by Israeli leaders added.
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The triggers of the conflict
When Israel struck Beirut last week, the attack resulted in Iran retaliating with strikes on Tel Aviv, threatening the fragile ceasefire that was signed between Washington and Tehran on April 8.
A building in Lebanon damaged in an Israeli attack. (AP file photo)
Iran, which backs Hezbollah in the region, has reiterated that the peace agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict in West Asia must also include an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
After US-Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, Hezbollah struck Tel Aviv with missiles two days later, igniting a full-fledged war in the volatile region.
Diplomatic shifting and Israeli reactions
Since the latest round of fighting exchanged between Israel and Iran, the US and the Islamic Republic have come closer to signing a peace agreement.
However, it is being seen as a disappointment for Israel which has been allegedly sidelines in negotiations led by Pakistan and other mediating countries, AP reported.
Finalizing the potential truce
According to AP report citing two regional officials, negotiators from Qatar travelled to Tehran on Sunday to finalise the potential truce deal.
The officials stated that US and Iran were finally approaching toward an agreement that could cease the hostilities in the region and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, whose closure has led world markets to plunge.
People run in front of burned cars that were attacked in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon. (AP Photo) 
A building in Lebanon damaged in an Israeli attack. (AP file photo)
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