Israel pounded Beirut's southern suburbs late on Wednesday night, while militant group Hezbollah fired rockets and missiles at northern Israel in a new operation, as the death toll in Lebanon climbed past 630.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that at least 17 people were injured in the Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in south Beirut.

In New York, senior UN officials and member states called for an end to fighting in Lebanon, which was dragged into the war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel, which had kept up strikes in Lebanon even before the war despite a 2024 ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah, has since launched air raids across the country and sent ground troops into border areas – an offensive that has killed 634 people, including 91 children, according to authorities.

The Israeli military said late Wednesday that it had launched a new wave of strikes on Hezbollah targets in south Beirut – a stronghold of the Iran-backed group – vowing to act with "great force" there after the military reported rocket fire from Hezbollah towards Israel.

Hezbollah said it launched drones, dozens of rockets and volleys of advanced missiles at northern Israel as part of a new operation, including at the headquarters of the Israeli military's northern command and other bases.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee on X vowed a severe response to the new attacks.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a late-night statement carried by the Fars news agency that they had carried out a "joint and integrated operation" with Hezbollah involving launches from both countries towards targets in Israel.

Lebanese authorities said on Wednesday that about 816,000 people had been registered as displaced, with around 126,000 staying in collective shelters.

Some residents fear being caught in Israeli air raids targeting people sheltering nearby.

"We don't know who they're targeting. Maybe someone related to something, maybe not," Amal Hisham, 46, said.

"Who do I blame? Who do I not blame?"

In New York, senior UN officials and member states called for an end to fighting in Lebanon at a Security Council meeting.

Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said Israeli forces would continue to operate in Lebanon "as long (as) there will be a threat against us". (AFP/Xinhua)



Edited by Cecil Wong