Lebanon accuses Israel of rejecting ceasefire

Lebanon's prime minister accused Israel on Friday of rejecting a ceasefire after the Israeli military bombed Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold for the first time this week.

In Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a major offensive in the north for nearly a month, a Hamas official said the group had rejected a proposal for a short-term truce.

United Nations chiefs called the situation in northern Gaza "apocalyptic" and warned the entire population there was at risk of death.

Since late September Israel has been fighting a two-front war, against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and against Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 last year.

At least 10 strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs before dawn after Israel issued evacuation warnings. AFPTV footage showed explosions and clouds of smoke. "The raids left massive destruction in the targeted areas, as dozens of buildings were levelled," Lebanon's official National News Agency reported.

The news agency also reported strikes on Bint Jbeil, Tyre and Nabatieh in the south. The Israeli military said it was continuing operations against both Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Lebanon strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US officials to discuss a possible deal to end the war against Hezbollah, ahead of Tuesday's US presidential election. Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attacks.

He said the renewed bombing of Beirut's southern suburbs and strikes on other areas "confirm the Israeli enemy's rejection of all efforts being made to secure a ceasefire."

Israeli warplanes again hit the eastern city of Baalbek, after strikes there killed six people on Thursday.

Smoke rose from the remains of house in the city's Douris neighbourhood.

"The place that was bombed is a residential area. Our neighbour is a woman with a disability. She was injured while at home," said Jaafar Durra, pointing to a pancaked building.

Baalbek boasts Roman temples that UNESCO has designated as World Heritage site and the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, warned the war was put the country's cultural heritage site in "deep peril".