Seven children among 23 killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon village shelter

Seven children were among 23 killed in an Israeli strike on a shelter for civilians, north of the capital Beirut on Sunday, with at least 41 people killed in Israeli raids across the country, according to Lebanese authorities.

Body parts recovered from the site of the house-turned-shelter in Aalmat, Jbeil district were still being identified, a statement by the health ministry said.

Footage showed rescuers rummaging through the wreckage of the home with their bare hands through the wreckage, pulling out bodies wrapped in blankets while an excavator moved the rubble of the flattened building.

The Shia Muslim-majority village of Almat, located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Beirut, is situated in a mostly Christian region - outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds.

Hezbollah lawmaker Raed Berro, one of the members of parliament representing the Jbeil district, denied Israeli claims that members of the movement or weapons were among the civilian population killed in the strike.

"Important military and security figures are usually on the frontlines... not at the rear," Berro told AFP at the site.

"Under the rubble, there are only children, elderly men and women."

Last month, Israel targeted a shelter in Aito, Zgharta killing at least 24 people, most of whom were from the same family. Last week, another Israeli strike on a shelter in Barja, Chouf killed 20 people and injured 14 others.

"It's clear that the enemy intended a massacre and is trying to sow discord between residents and the displaced," Barja activist Jamal Terro, who aided the rescue efforts after the attack, told L'Orient-Le Jour.

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on Sunday killed three rescuers in southern Lebanon, and at least 12 people in the Baalbek region.

Another three people died in a strike on Al-Qasr in the Hermel region in the east, the ministry said.

Lebanese media reported an Israeli strike on a house in the main eastern city of Baalbek, which was not preceded by an Israeli army evacuation warning.

"Enemy aircraft launched a strike on a house in the Al-Laqees neighbourhood" of the city, the state news agency National News Agency reported.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,186 people and wounded over 14,078 others, according to Lebanon's health ministry - most of them since 23 September. 

Hezbollah says Israeli army failing to advance in southern invasion

On Monday, Hezbollah said that the Israeli military has been unable to occupy a single village in Lebanon since launching cross-border ground operations in September.

"After 45 days of bloody fighting, the enemy is still unable to occupy a single Lebanese village," Hezbollah spokesman Mohammad Afif told a news conference in south Beirut, which Israel has pounded with air strikes.

Afif, addressing the Israeli army, said: "As long as you are unable to fight and advance on the ground, you will not achieve your goals and the people of the North will not return."

The Israeli army and authorities have set themselves the goal of creating the conditions that allow for tens of thousands of residents of norther Israel, recently displaced by Hezbollah rocket fire on border villages, to return to their homes.

Afif's comments came after Israeli reported that the army's chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, reportedly approved the expansion of the ground operations in southern Lebanon.

According to KAN, Israel's security establishment had considered announcing the end of the ground operation last week but Halevi approved new plans for the Israeli forces and expanded maneuvers, which could include thousands of permanent and reserve soldiers.

Hochstein to return to MENA region

Lebanese media reported over the weekend of "serious efforts" underway for a renewed ceasefire push between Israel and Hezbollah, with information pointing to a "new approach" by US envoy Amos Hochstein, who is expected to visit the region this week.

The Lebanese MTV channel reported that Hochstein would "come from Washington without passing by Israel". The outlet cited US sources who were reportedly involved in the negotiations as saying that a ceasefire was still possible, and that the US administration was "counting on Hochstein's visit and on Blinken's efforts".

"[Donald] Trump told Hochstein, 'Go and finish your job and make a deal with Lebanon'," MTV quoted the sources as saying.

Reporting from Miami, an Al-Jadeed TV correspondent said that Hochstein plans to visit Tel Aviv early this week and "may also travel to Lebanon".

"The current US administration aims to intensify its efforts for a ceasefire before Joe Biden’s term ends," the reporter said.

She outlined Hochstein's proposed initiative, which would unfold in stages: a ceasefire, the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, presidential elections, and finally, negotiations for a permanent agreement to implement Resolution 1701.

Resolution 1701 mandates, among other things, the withdrawal of Israeli forces behind the Blue Line and the creation of a demilitarised zone between the UN-patrolled border and the Litani River, effectively calling for Hezbollah’s retreat from the area.

If progress is favourable, Hochstein will proceed to Lebanon to meet with officials and finalise the process, the Al-Jadeed correspondent added.

Russian role in Lebanon deal

Last week, Israel's strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, reportedly visited Russia "in secret", the Israeli Army Radio reported. It said the visit was part of Israel's efforts to end the war in Lebanon.

Dermer also headed to Washington last week, where he met with senior US officials as well as president-elect Donald Trump, to discuss various issues including the wars on Lebanon and Gaza, according to Times of Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar spoke of "some progress" toward reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to Reuters, adding: "We are working the issue with the Americans."

Kan reported on Monday quoting an unnamed Kremlin official that Russia was ready to assist in reaching a deal between Lebanon and Israel.

"Russia is willing to help and support any effort that stops the killing of civilians and prevents the destruction of civilian infrastructure," the Russian official said.

KAN reported that Russia would be able to help reach a deal by pressing on Bashar al-Assad's regime to stop the transfer of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that Tel Aviv's main object was to secure a commitment from the US on its "freedom of action" in Lebanon after a deal. This would mean Israel would maintain the ability to strike what it deems as violations by Hezbollah and prevent the group from regaining strength along the border.