Blinken calls for ceasefire as Israel bombs ancient part of Lebanon

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called for a halt to fighting between Israel and the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, but heavy Israeli airstrikes on a major Lebanese port showed no pause.

As Reuters reports, Israel began bombing the port of Tyre, which is on the UNESCO list, on Wednesday about three hours after issuing an online order for residents to leave central areas.

Huge clouds of thick smoke rose above residential buildings. Tens of thousands of people have already left Tyre in recent weeks, as Israel intensifies its campaign to destroy Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, both allies of Iran.

The port is usually a bustling hub for the south - with fishermen, tourists and even UN peacekeepers on leave from deployments near the border spending time there by the sea.

However, Israeli evacuation orders for the city this week have for the first time covered large parts of the city, including an area up to its ancient fortress.