Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met on Saturday the head of Syria’s administration Ahmad Al-Sharaa at the People's Palace in Damascus. Watch this report for more details!

Lebanese PM meets Syria's new leader Al-Sharaa in Damascus

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Lebanon's prime minister to discuss Israel's strikes on the country as Washington presses the Beirut government to take charge against Hezbollah.

Blinken, on his way back from a Middle East tour, met in London with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who came in from a conference on Lebanon in Paris the day before.

The two smiled before the cameras but made no remarks.

The United States, Israel's main political and military ally, has stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire in its month of bombing of Lebanon targeting Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.

But Blinken has also called for a quick diplomatic solution.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-claims-hamas-commander-who-worked-as-un-aid-worker-killed-in-gaza-770515">IDF claims Hamas commander who worked as UN aid worker killed in Gaza</a>

"We have been very clear that this cannot lead -- should not lead -- to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger UN peacekeepers or the Lebanese Armed Forces," Blinken said Thursday in Doha.

The United States has called for Lebanon's long wobbly central government to take charge of security and for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite movement that effectively has its own military.

Hezbollah has fired missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the Palestinian militants' October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered Israel's massive military assault in Gaza.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a call to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Wednesday voiced concern over Israeli strikes on the Lebanese army which have killed at least 11 Lebanese soldiers, according to an AFP tally of army announcements.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Lebanon's prime minister to discuss Israel's strikes on the country as Washington presses the Beirut government to take charge against Hezbollah.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Lebanon's prime minister to discuss Israel's strikes on the country as Washington presses the Beirut government to take charge against Hezbollah. Blinken, on his way back from a Middle East tour, met in London with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who came in from a conference on Lebanon in Paris the day before. The two smiled before the cameras but made no remarks. The United States, Israel's main political and military ally, has stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire in its month of bombing of Lebanon targeting Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. But Blinken has also called for a quick diplomatic solution. Also read: IDF claims Hamas commander who worked as UN aid worker killed in Gaza "We have been very clear that this cannot lead -- should not lead -- to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger UN peacekeepers or the Lebanese Armed Forces," Blinken said Thursday in Doha. The United States has called for Lebanon's long wobbly central government to take charge of security and for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite movement that effectively has its own military. Hezbollah has fired missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the Palestinian militants' October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered Israel's massive military assault in Gaza. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a call to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Wednesday voiced concern over Israeli strikes on the Lebanese army which have killed at least 11 Lebanese soldiers, according to an AFP tally of army announcements. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US Secretary of State Blinken meets with Lebanon’s PM amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday (Sep 23) slammed Israel's "destructive plan" of strikes against his country as a "war of extermination". His statement comes as the Israeli military struck over 300 Hezbollah targets in east and south Lebanon.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:85,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1922}">Israel's ‘war of extermination’</h2>

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the caretaker PM Najib Mikati said, "The continuing Israeli aggression on Lebanon is a war of extermination in every sense of the word and a destructive plan that aims to destroy Lebanese villages and towns."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:197,&quot;w&quot;:526,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2034}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-strikes-more-than-300-hezbollah-targets-182-killed-over-700-injured-761254">Israel strikes more than 300 Hezbollah targets, 182 killed, over 700 injured</a>

Mikati also urged "the United Nations and the General Assembly and influential countries… to deter the (Israeli) aggression".

As per a statement released on X, he told his cabinet that Israel is planning to "destroy Lebanese villages and towns".

The caretaker PM also said&nbsp;he would work "to stop the new Israeli war and avoid as much as possible falling into the unknown".

Lebanon health ministry in a statement said, "Israeli enemy strikes on southern towns and villages since this morning."&nbsp;

It said that the strikes have killed "182 people and wounded 727 others", with children, women, and health workers among the casualties.

However, as per an AFP report citing a Lebanon minister, 274 people,&nbsp;including 21 children, have died in the strikes.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:382,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2219}">Israeli strikes on Lebanon</h2>

On Monday, Israel said it hit more than 300 Hezbollah sites in dozens of strikes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:558,&quot;w&quot;:636,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2395}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-does-not-seek-war-have-the-right-to-defend-our-people-president-herzog-761183">‘Israel does not seek war, but we have duty, right to defend our people’: President Herzog</a>

The nation has also warned Lebanon citizens to steer clear of Hezbollah sites. In a statement, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told the people to avoid potential targets linked to Hezbollah, and said that the as strikes would "go on for the near future".

He warned that the Israeli military "will engage in (more) extensive and precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon", and&nbsp;told civilians to "immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety".

(With inputs from agencies)

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday (Sep 23) slammed Israel's "destructive plan" of strikes against his country as a "war of extermination". His statement comes as the Israeli military struck over 300 Hezbollah targets in east and south Lebanon.

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday (Sep 23) slammed Israel's "destructive plan" of strikes against his country as a "war of extermination". His statement comes as the Israeli military struck over 300 Hezbollah targets in east and south Lebanon. Israel's ‘war of extermination’ Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the caretaker PM Najib Mikati said, "The continuing Israeli aggression on Lebanon is a war of extermination in every sense of the word and a destructive plan that aims to destroy Lebanese villages and towns." Also read | Israel strikes more than 300 Hezbollah targets, 182 killed, over 700 injured Mikati also urged "the United Nations and the General Assembly and influential countries… to deter the (Israeli) aggression". As per a statement released on X, he told his cabinet that Israel is planning to "destroy Lebanese villages and towns". The caretaker PM also said he would work "to stop the new Israeli war and avoid as much as possible falling into the unknown". Lebanon health ministry in a statement said, "Israeli enemy strikes on southern towns and villages since this morning." It said that the strikes have killed "182 people and wounded 727 others", with children, women, and health workers among the casualties. However, as per an AFP report citing a Lebanon minister, 274 people, including 21 children, have died in the strikes. Israeli strikes on Lebanon On Monday, Israel said it hit more than 300 Hezbollah sites in dozens of strikes. Also read | ‘Israel does not seek war, but we have duty, right to defend our people’: President Herzog The nation has also warned Lebanon citizens to steer clear of Hezbollah sites. In a statement, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told the people to avoid potential targets linked to Hezbollah, and said that the as strikes would "go on for the near future". He warned that the Israeli military "will engage in (more) extensive and precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon", and told civilians to "immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety". (With inputs from agencies)

Lebanon PM slams Israel’s ‘war of extermination’ as death toll from strikes rises to 274

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Lebanese PM meets Syria's new leader Al-Sharaa in Damascus

US Secretary of State Blinken meets with Lebanon’s PM amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions

Lebanon PM slams Israel’s ‘war of extermination’ as death toll from strikes rises to 274