The Israel Defense Forces continued its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza -- particularly in the north of the strip -- and in Lebanon, with Israeli attacks on targets nationwide including in the capital Beirut.

Israel has dramatically escalated its bombardment of Lebanon since September, vowing to severely weaken Hezbollah, which has been firing rockets and drones at Israel since it launched its air and ground assault on Gaza over a year ago.

Lebanon’s religious fault lines are straining as Israel’s war with the Hezbollah militant group grinds on.

Israeli airstrikes targeted a neighborhood in the heart of Lebanon’s capital, slamming into an area of Beirut near the Parliament, several embassies and the U.N. headquarters