Israel strikes south Beirut after sending mixed signals over Lebanon ceasefire

At least ten strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs Tuesday morning, less than an hour after the Israeli army called for residents of several neighborhoods in the Hezbollah bastion to evacuate.

AFPTV footage showed plumes of grey smoke rising from the area. Witnesses told AFP gunfire could be heard in the area ahead of the strikes -- warning shots by residents for people to leave following the evacuation call.

The Israeli army issued warnings for 11 areas in Haret Hreik, Hadath, al-Laylaki and Ghobeiri.

"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel Defense Forces will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X that included a map showing the buildings it would target in the Lebanese capital.

The Israeli army also called for the evacuation of the towns of Shaqra, Houla, Majdal Selm, Tallousa, Mays al-Jabal, Sawwaneh, Qabrikha, Yuhmor, Arnoun, Blida, Mhaibib, Baraasheet, Froun and Ghandouriyeh in south Lebanon.

Israeli leaders had sent mixed signals on the possibility of a ceasefire with Lebanon on Monday, with Defense Minister Israel Katz seeming to contradict comments by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Saar, who replaced Katz at the foreign ministry this week, told journalists there had been progress towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, where war has raged for more than six weeks as Israel targets Hezbollah.

"There is certain progress," Saar said after being asked about a possible ceasefire. "We are working with the Americans on the issue."

But Katz, who became defense minister this week, told a forum of top military generals that "there will be no ceasefire, and there will be no break in the strikes against Hezbollah".

However, he did add that "if the possibility arises and a good proposal is put forward that would allow us to claim victory... we will certainly consider it very seriously".

Israel escalated air strikes in late September targeting Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon and sent in ground troops a week later, on September 30.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the operation's aim is to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River, which flows across southern Lebanon.

Another goal is to stop any attempt by Hezbollah to rearm.

Saar on Monday reiterated Israel's objectives.

He said Israel would "be ready" for a ceasefire if Hezbollah does not have a presence on the border and is unable to rearm with weapons systems arriving "from Syria, from the sea, from the airport".

He added: "The main challenge, eventually, will be to enforce what will be agreed."

"We want to get our citizens back home safely, and if we will meet the right conditions, we will be there. In the meantime, the operation of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) near our border continues," Saar said.

Tens of thousands of Israelis were displaced when Hezbollah began cross-border fire more than a year ago in what it described as support for Palestinians, after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza.