Israeli troops reach deepest point in Lebanon since invasion began, Lebanese state media says

The agency also claimed that Israeli forces destroyed the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet along with several homes in Chamaa, prior to their withdrawal. However, the claim could not be verified, as per The Associated Press.

According to a report by AP, Israel’s military did not respond directly to the claims but stated its forces were continuing “limited, localised, and targeted operational activities in southern Lebanon.” Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck multiple sites across southern Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, Dahiyeh, and the port city of Tyre. While Israel reportedly issued advance warnings to residents, no immediate casualties were confirmed, AP said.

The clashes, alongside intensified Israeli bombardments of southern Beirut—known as a Hezbollah stronghold—coincide with Lebanese and Hezbollah officials reviewing a US-proposed draft to end the conflict.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Since late September, Israel has significantly increased its strikes on Lebanon, aiming to cripple Hezbollah and halt its attacks on Israel. On Saturday, Israel reported that Hezbollah had launched over 60 projectiles into its territory, though further details were not provided.

Meanwhile, more than 3,400 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli attacks—80% of them in the past eight weeks—according to records by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Israel insists its actions aim to enable thousands of its citizens to safely return to homes near the Lebanese border.

Ceasefire Discussions

On Friday, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister reportedly urged Iran to persuade Hezbollah to accept a ceasefire with Israel, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

The US proposal, presented earlier in the week, was handed to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is leading negotiations on behalf of Hezbollah. According to sources, Hezbollah officials have reviewed the draft and will relay their feedback to Berri.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Berri, in comments to the pan-Arab Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, said the proposal does not permit Israel to act unilaterally in Lebanon if the agreement is violated. “We will not accept any infringement of our sovereignty,” he stated, while raising concerns over the inclusion of Western members in a supervisory committee.

Despite ongoing discussions on these details, Berri noted a “positive atmosphere,” but added that outcomes remain uncertain.

War in Gaza

Efforts are also underway to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on 7 October 2023 after Palestinian militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 250 others.

In Gaza, the Health Ministry reported that 35 people were killed in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 43,799. The ministry claimed more than half of the casualties were women and children, though it does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

On Thursday, the UN Security Council’s 10 elected members proposed a draft resolution demanding an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. The US, Israel’s closest ally, is seen as pivotal in determining whether the resolution will pass, while other permanent members—Russia, China, Britain, and France—are expected to either support it or abstain.

(With Inputs from Associated Press)