Tue Nov 26 21:47:11 UTC 2024: ## Beirut Shaken by Israeli Strikes Despite Announced Ceasefire
**Beirut, Lebanon –** An Israeli airstrike hit Beirut just moments after U.S. President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, leaving at least 24 Lebanese dead. The attack, one of several across Lebanon, came as Israel indicated its intention to continue targeting Hezbollah before the ceasefire is due to come into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Hezbollah also launched rocket attacks into Israel earlier on Tuesday.
The ceasefire, if it holds, would represent a significant step toward de-escalating the regional conflict that began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. However, it does not resolve the ongoing devastating war in Gaza, where the Health Ministry reports over 44,000 dead and more than 104,000 wounded in nearly 14 months of fighting.
Hezbollah joined the conflict on October 8, 2023, following Hamas’s initial assault. The situation in Lebanon escalated into full-scale war in September, with widespread Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
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