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

An Israeli strike hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Saturday, shortly after the Israeli army issued a new call to evacuate the area. It came a day after Lebanese sources

This footage illustrates a big column of smoke as Israeli airstrike targets a residential building in Harat Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

As a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei visited Lebanon for talks, Lebanese officials said a U.S. proposal for a cease-fire deal had been passed on to Hezbollah.

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.

An Israeli minister indicated that a ceasefire was closer than at any point since the war began, though he said a sticking point was ensuring Israel retains freedom to act inside Lebanon should any deal be violated.

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.