Israel agrees to talks with Lebanon as strikes there threaten fragile U.S.-Iran truce

Geoff Bennett:

Israel has agreed to negotiations with Lebanon as it continued strikes on Beirut today. The bombing across Lebanon is jeopardizing the fragile cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran.

Amna Nawaz:

It comes as American and Iranian diplomats are set to meet in Pakistan this weekend. But a wide gulf of trust and lack of clarity on demands threatens this possible end to more than five weeks of fighting.

Special correspondent Simona Foltyn starts our coverage from Lebanon, still reeling from the deadliest day of Israeli attacks since the start of the wider war with Iran.

Simona Foltyn:

Rescue teams in Beirut have been working around the clock since Israel unleashed an unprecedented wave of attacks yesterday; 18 people have been pulled dead from the rubble of this building alone. There's little hope for the four still buried underneath. But the Civil Defense isn't giving up until everyone is accounted for.

Ali Khaled Al Haybi, Civil Defense Volunteer (through interpreter):

We are currently carrying out this search-and-rescue operation the fastest we can. We came here so we can implement this mission and so that we can recover the four missing victims.

Simona Foltyn:

Volunteer Ali Khaled Al Haybi came to the capital as part of reinforcements sent from other parts of the country.

There is a drone in the sky right now. The strikes are still ongoing. Are you worried about your safety?

Ali Khaled Al Haybi (through interpreter):

It's not just a worry. It's a risk above our head, this constant annoying sound that's making us nervous. So, yes, we are a bit distracted, but we will stay here to complete the mission.

Simona Foltyn:

In just 10 minutes, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 100 strikes, killing more than 300 and injuring more than 1,000 in one of the bloodiest days in Lebanon's recent history. Israel says it was targeting Hezbollah. The strikes hit densely populated residential neighborhoods, exacting a heavy civilian toll.

Scenes of devastation like this one are repeated across the capital, Beirut, in areas that were previously deemed safe. That perception of relative safety has been completely shattered. There is a profound feeling of shock, uncertainty and fear that there are no guardrails to prevent this war from escalating further.

President Trump has pushed Israel to scale back attacks on Lebanon. And, today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to direct negotiations.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

I instructed the Cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon in order to achieve two goals, one, the disarmament of Hezbollah, two, a historic sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

Simona Foltyn:

The direct talks slated to be in Washington would be the first such negotiation between the two countries in decades.

As those negotiations play out, President Trump vowed U.S. troops, aircraft and the fleet of warships in the region aren't going anywhere until the -- quote -- "real agreement" is reached and fully complied with. He added: "The U.S. military is looking forward, actually, to its next conquest."

It comes as President Trump has heavily criticized the NATO alliance for what he says is a lack of support for the U.S. war effort in Iran.

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General:

Allies are doing everything the United States is asking.

Simona Foltyn:

In Washington, one day after meeting with the president, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte signaled support for the U.S. military and that the alliance may play a role in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

Mark Rutte:

But what I see when I look across Europe today is allies providing a massive amount of support, basing, logistics and other measures to ensure the powerful U.S. military succeeds in denying Iran a nuclear weapon and degrading its capacity to export chaos.

Simona Foltyn:

But Iran remains defiant. The supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, put out a statement today declaring victory for the Iranian people. A news anchor read it out on state TV.

"It is clear before everyone's eyes the dawn of the Islamic Republic's emergence as a great power while the evil is facing the downhill slope of weakness."

For many Lebanese mourning their loved ones and picking through the rubble of their homes, promises of a cease-fire deal, let alone peace with Israel, seem more elusive than ever.

Raghd Ali Mohammed survived the strike on this building in Central Beirut. His living quarters were on the lower ground floor, which is likely why he escaped unharmed. The dental clinic right above him was completely destroyed.

Raghd Ali Mohammed, Beirut, Lebanon, Resident (through interpreter):

I was in my room downstairs and suddenly the rockets came down, hitting this dental clinic. The ceiling came down on us. There was no warning. The place was full of dust. It took 10 to 15 minutes until I could see anything, so I could open the door and escape through a small crack.

Simona Foltyn:

Raghd has worked as the building's attendant for five years. He knew each and every person who lived here and said none of the residents were affiliated with Hezbollah.

Raghd Ali Mohammed (through interpreter):

Our building has seven floors. All of the residents are civilians. There's no one else here.

Simona Foltyn:

The building across the street was also targeted and completely razed the ground. The IDF said it expanded its military campaign to neighborhoods like these because Hezbollah had moved outside its traditional areas of control, but it has provided no evidence to support these claims.

In the wake of so much loss, accusations are swirling around, fueled by paranoia and growing internal rifts among Lebanese. This woman, who lives in the neighborhood, came up to us to say that she saw suspicious movements in and out of the building that was demolished. She wanted to remain anonymous out of fear for her safety.

Woman (through interpreter):

For two years, we have been saying that there are trucks entering the building that we are suspicious of. They have entered several times.

Simona Foltyn:

We couldn't verify these claims. Another neighbor told us that authorities reportedly inspected the building and found nothing. Even if Hezbollah was present here, international law still requires Israel to observe principles of proportionality and precaution to prevent civilian harm.

But yesterday's air raids were all but proportional, and they came without warning. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the government would file a complaint to the U.N. Security Council.

Nawaf Salam, Lebanese Prime Minister (through interpreter):

This dangerous escalation comes in defiance of all international and regional efforts to end the war in the region and blatantly disregards the principles of international law and international humanitarian law. Indeed, it flagrantly violates them.

Simona Foltyn:

The prime minister repeated calls to disarm Hezbollah.

Nawaf Salam (through interpreter):

The army and security forces are required to immediately begin enhancing the state's full authority across Beirut and restricting arms to legitimate forces only.

Simona Foltyn:

That process was ongoing before the war escalated last month. The Lebanese army had confiscated much of Hezbollah's weaponry in Lebanon south, completing the first of a precarious five-phase plan to disarm the militant group.

But army officials have said it's not feasible to take Hezbollah's weapons by force and as long as Israel keeps attacking and occupying the country.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Simona Foltyn in Beirut, Lebanon.