Since late September, Israel dramatically escalated its bombardment of Lebanon, vowing to cripple Hezbollah and end its barrages in Israel. More than 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire — 80 per cent of them in the past month — Lebanon's Health Ministry says.

Israeli officials are insisting on maintaining a capacity to strike Lebanon at any moment as part of conditions to secure a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Lebanon's prime minister said US envoy Amos Hochstein had signalled during a phone call Wednesday that a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war was possible before US elections are held on November 5.

Lebanese state media say Israeli ground forces reached their deepest point in Lebanon since they invaded six weeks ago, before pulling back after fierce battles with Hezbollah militants

By Riham Alkousaa and Ari Rabinovitch BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of progress on Thursday as Israel pounded its northern neighbour including heavy airstrikes on the stronghold of armed group Hezbollah near Beirut.

Israel launched more airstrikes on Hezbollah targets Friday, completely leveling a building in Beirut. The strikes come after a top Iranian official committed to support Lebanon as the U.S. continues to push for a cease-fire deal.

Israel has stepped up strikes on the city’s southern suburbs in recent days, an area Israeli officials say hosts Hezbollah militants and infrastructure.

Lebanon is considering a U.S.-backed cease-fire plan while Israel launched new strikes in the area south of Beirut. Senior Lebanon officials are reviewing the proposal and it is based on the U.N. Security Council resolution 1701,