BEIRUT, Lebanon —An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed a dozen medical staff at a clinic, Lebanese health authorities said Saturday, after Iran-backed Hezbollah's leader said his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel.

By Alexander Cornwell and Maya Gebeily TEL AVIV/BEIRUT, March 13 (Reuters) - Israel destroyed a bridge in southern Lebanon on Friday, dropped leaflets in Beirut threatening Gaza-scale devastation and warned of more attacks on the country's infrastructure,

BEIRUT: An overnight Israeli strike on a healthcare centre in Borj Qalaouiya killed at least 12 Lebanese medical personnel, Lebanon’s state news agency said on Saturday, as diplomatic efforts intensified amid reports Israel and Lebanon may hold their first direct talks to de-escalate the war.

The war is expanding into Lebanon, as an Israeli offensive to dismantle Hezbollah has displaced 800,000 people there, with more than 680 people killed.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said Lebanon was ready to engage in "direct talks" with Israel and offered to host negotiations in Paris. This came on the heels of a visit to Beirut by

Nearly one sixth the country’s population has been displaced since the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah

On Friday, two loud booms echoed in Beirut before Israeli leaflets started raining down on residents, spreading captions that evoke Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza and urge Lebanese residents to share information with Israeli intelligence.

Israel is fighting a second front in the war in the Middle East in southern Lebanon, against Hezbollah, alongside the air campaign against Iran it launched with the United States more than two weeks ago.

The FBI described the attack on one of the nation’s largest Reform synagogues as an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.