Middle East latest: Israeli strike in Beirut kills 9 as troops battle Hezbollah in southern Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike on an apartment in central Beirut has killed nine people, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Israel has been pounding areas of the country where the Hezbollah militant group has a strong presence but has rarely struck in the heart of the capital. The airstrike late Wednesday hit an apartment in central Beirut, not far from the United Nations headquarters, the prime minister’s office and parliament. There was no warning before the strike. The strike came as Israel was pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah, while also conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children.