Fresh strikes hit south Beirut after Israeli evacuation calls

At least 10 strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs early Friday, after the Israeli army issued orders for buildings in the Hezbollah stronghold to be evacuated.

The strikes come a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met visiting U.S. officials to discuss a possible deal to end the war in Lebanon with the death toll mounting on both sides of the border.

AFPTV footage showed explosions followed by clouds of smoke unfurling in the suburbs.

"The raids left massive destruction in the targeted areas, as dozens of buildings were leveled to the ground, in addition to the outbreak of fires," Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) said.

The strikes targeted the suburban areas of Ghobeiry and Al-Kafaat, the Sayyed Hadi Highway, the vicinity of the Al-Mujtaba Complex, and the old airport road, it added.

The Israeli military has repeatedly bombarded south Beirut in recent weeks, while also carrying out deadly strikes elsewhere in the capital and across Lebanon.

Ceasefire talks 

During talks on Thursday, Israeli leader Netanyahu told U.S. envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any Lebanon deal must guarantee Israel's longer-term security.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also separately met the Americans, saying in a statement that their discussions focused on "security arrangements as these relate to the northern arena and Lebanon, and efforts to ensure the return of 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza."

According to Israeli media reports citing government sources, the U.S.-brokered plan would see Hezbollah forces retreat around 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the border, north of the Litani River.

Israeli troops would withdraw from Lebanon, and the Lebanese army...