Israel carried out its deadliest attacks on Lebanon in weeks and a top Israeli minister called for an intensified assault on Gaza, even as the US insisted it was making progress towards an end to both conflicts. The airstrikes killed at least 11 people, including three children; Israel’s invasion and aerial bombardment of Lebanon have left more than 4,000 dead since March.
Separately, Israel’s hard-line national security minister said that the country should kill “30 to 40” Gazans daily and called for more air raids on the territory. All of that came as a US presidential envoy held a rare meeting with the leader of Hamas to discuss peace, and as Washington trumpeted the prospects for Israel-Lebanon talks next month.