Hezbollah fires barrage of rockets into central Israel

Associated Press Tel Aviv: Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel on Tuesday, setting off air raid sirens in the country's most populated areas but causing no apparent damage or injuries, a few hours before US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in the region on a mission to restart stalled Gaza ceasefire talks. The Israeli military said five projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel and said most were intercepted by Israel's missile defence system.

One landed in an open area. The rocket fire came as Israel stepped up its strikes in Lebanon, targeting a Hezbollah-run financial institution, and as the U.S. pushed to resume cease-fire talks in Gaza following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to annihilate Hamas and recover dozens of hostages held by the group. Hamas says it will only release the captives in return for a lasting cease-fire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamasled militants blew holes in Israel's security fence and stormed in, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish combatants from civilians.

The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population of 2.3 million people. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Health Ministry says the death toll from an Israeli strike near one of Beirut's main hospitals has climbed to 13, with dozens more wounded. The airstrike late Monday hit a building facing the main government hospital in the capital.