Israel PM orders strikes on Beirut suburbs as Hezbollah conflict escalates

Israel's prime minister has ordered attacks on the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, as its conflict with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah escalates. Benjamin Netanyahu said "terror targets" in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh would be struck in response to its rocket and drone attacks on Israeli civilians and other violations of a ceasefire announced in April that has failed to end the fighting. Soon afterwards, there were traffic jams on roads out of the suburbs as thousands tried to flee to safety. The conflict also poses a major obstacle to US efforts to forge a deal to end its war with Iran, with Tehran insisting that any ceasefire must include Lebanon. The US has tried to separate events in Lebanon from the negotiations, but a US official said on Sunday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had proposed a plan for "gradual de-escalation" there to Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A senior Lebanese government official said it was relying on US mediation efforts to pressure Israel to end its own violations and prevent further civilian casualties. In a joint statement released on Monday morning, the Israeli prime minister and Defence Minister Israel