US would like Israel to reduce some of its strikes on Beirut and its surroundings, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said today, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
"The number of casualties among the civilian population is too high," he told journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 defense ministers in the Italian city of Naples. "We would like Israel to reduce some of its strikes in and around Beirut, and we would like to see a transition to negotiations that allow the civilian population on both sides to return to their homes," Austin added.
Since Israel began striking Beirut's southern suburbs about three weeks ago, tens of thousands of people have fled the densely populated area, which is also home to Hezbollah's offices and underground facilities, Reuters notes.
Israel today again attacked the southern neighborhood of Beirut "Haret Hreik". The Israeli army said it hit several Hezbollah weapons depots. The command center of the group's intelligence headquarters was also a target of today's strikes, the Israeli army added.
The attack was carried out hours after "Hezbollah" fired rockets at Northern Israel and struck with a drone the house of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the city of Caesarea.