Israel carried out airstrikes in southern Beirut just before a meeting of its security cabinet to discuss a possible ceasefire with Hezbollah.

A large explosion was heard in central Beirut, accompanied by a massive plume of black smoke visible from the live position. No warning had been issued by the Israeli military before the attack.

Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah would be reached by tonight. Speaking at a G7 meeting in Italy, he stated that Lebanon is "paralysed" by the conflict, but remains hopeful that the ceasefire will pave the way for future talks to resolve border disputes with Israel.

Earlier today, Israel's military reported airstrikes on six Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut, including infrastructure used by Hezbollah’s sea missile unit, command centers, and other sites in the Dahieh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) mentioned that precautions were taken to minimize civilian harm, including issuing an evacuation order for buildings in southern Beirut before the strike. Hezbollah has not yet commented on the attacks.

In the broader context, the Israeli security cabinet is set to discuss a 60-day ceasefire proposal aimed at temporarily halting hostilities with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have agreed to the deal "in principle." Meanwhile, the EU's foreign policy chief has called for increased pressure on Israel to support the ceasefire plan. The situation remains tense as Israel continues to strike targets along the Lebanon-Syria border, while Hezbollah is reported to have launched rockets into northern Israel. However, Hezbollah has not yet responded to these recent developments .

Reference:BBC news