By Ahmad Al Kerdi and Alexander Cornwell BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Escalating hostilities have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon, a U.N. agency said on Monday, as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah entered a second week.

Israeli fighter jets also bombarded the southern outskirts of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, as part of its escalating military campaign against Hezbollah.

The Lebanese government proposed direct negotiations with Israel — through the Trump administration — aimed at ending the war and reaching a peace agreement, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter.

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 9 (Reuters) - Hezbollah said on Monday its fighters clashed with Israeli troops in eastern Lebanon during an Israeli airborne raid overnight, in what would be the second such operation in the area in recent days,

Israel is renewing its assault on southern Lebanon, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force in Beirut

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged his support to Lebanon in disarming the pro-Iranian Hezbollah. He made the statement during a video conference with EU representatives and other leaders

Israel carried out a commando raid in eastern Lebanon to search for clues about a navigator who went missing 40 years ago.

Authorities have over the past years accused Israel of using controversial white phosphorus rounds, in attacks authorities say have harmed civilians and the environment.

The previous war had been initiated by Hezbollah in solidarity with the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. This time, many Lebanese were less willing to accept Hezbollah’s decision to engage Israel.

Israel has been carrying out a military operation in southern Lebanon for more than a week, with three airstrikes hitting Sir El Gharbiyeh village on Sunday.

The repercussions of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran continue to be felt across the Middle East. However, Lebanon has become the most active second front in the continued conflict between the US,

Four soldiers were injured but all are now in a stable condition, Ghana's army says.