Beirut, Lebanon — Dozens of people were killed this weekend in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, marking a severe escalation in hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. Among the dead were 29 people, including families, in Beirut’s Basta district after a multi-story residential building was flattened in a devastating attack on Saturday, according to Lebanese officials.

The strikes come as violence between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, even as ceasefire talks mediated by the United States show tentative signs of progress. Rescue workers continued searching through the rubble in the densely populated Basta area on Sunday, where 66 others were reported injured. Lebanese authorities claim the attack employed “bunker-busting” bombs, raising questions about the targeting of civilian areas.

No Evacuation Warnings Issued

The Israeli military did not issue an evacuation warning before the strike and has yet to comment on the incident, despite the death toll continuing to rise. Lebanese officials state that no senior Hezbollah members were present in the destroyed building.

This attack is part of a broader Israeli offensive that began in September and has since targeted Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and displacing more than a million people, according to Lebanese health and UN officials.

Ceasefire Talks Underway but Fragile

The violence coincides with ongoing negotiations to broker a truce. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut earlier this week, signaling progress in talks. While Hezbollah’s leadership has called for guarantees of Lebanese sovereignty and a halt to Israeli aggression, Israeli ministers insist that any agreement must preserve Israel’s intelligence capabilities and protect its northern border.

“We are negotiating with the condition that the Israeli enemy has no right to violate, kill, or enter at will under any pretext,” Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Wednesday.

Wider Escalation Across Lebanon

Beyond Beirut, strikes on Saturday targeted multiple regions in Lebanon. In Shmistar, located in the Baalbek-Hermel region in eastern Lebanon, 13 people, including four children, were killed, with 13 others injured. Additional strikes in nearby towns killed 11 more and injured 32, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.

In the southern city of Tyre, an Israeli strike on several buildings left five dead and 19 injured. NNA, Lebanon’s state-run news agency, reported that a drone strike narrowly missed one of its reporters in Tyre.

Clashes also intensified in southern Lebanon, with heavy fighting reported near the town of Khiam, a key strategic location for Hezbollah. Hezbollah claims to have launched at least 30 retaliatory strikes against Israeli forces on Saturday using drones, missiles, and rockets, stating its actions were “in defense of Lebanon and its people.”

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The escalating violence has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation. Lebanon’s health ministry and the UN have warned of critical shortages in aid for displaced civilians. In Gaza, where Israeli forces are conducting parallel operations, over 120 people were killed in the past 48 hours, with humanitarian access severely restricted.

“The result? People are under rubble without rescue. The sick and wounded can’t reach hospitals. Safe water and food have run out. Lives are lost,” said Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN’s humanitarian coordination office in Palestinian territories.

Calls for De-Escalation

As international pressure mounts, the conflict shows little sign of abating. The UN and aid organizations are calling for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid to reach affected areas.

With the situation on the ground deteriorating rapidly, the window for diplomacy may be narrowing. The continued airstrikes and retaliations threaten to plunge Lebanon and the broader region into deeper instability.