Jaina Raf

Israel launched the airstrike as the U.S.

and Iran said they were close to signing a ceasefire agreement.

Iran has said that any ceasefire with the U.S.

must include a ceasefire in Lebanon, and it has warned Israel in particular not to attack the Lebanese capital.

An Israeli statement said the attack was in retaliation for Iran-backed Hezbollah firing at northern Israel.

The militant group has been fighting Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon and has also fired drones across the border.

Video posted on social media showed smoke rising from an apartment building on a residential street in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has offices.

Jane Araf, NPR News, Beirut.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam addressed the Lebanese people as Israeli forces moved deeper into Lebanon than they have in 26 years.

Salam called the invasion a dangerous escalation and demanded an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal.

He said the only way forward was through negotiations.

Are they guaranteed to succeed, Nowak asked?

Certainly not, he answered, but said they are the least costly path for the country and its people.

Jane Araf, NPR News, Beirut.

Iraq's election commission announced that a political bloc led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani won the most seats.

But in the Iraqi system, whoever can form the biggest coalition after voting chooses the prime minister.

So Sudani will have to persuade other parties to join him to be able to keep the job.

Sudani thanked the Iraqi people for his election win.

And he called on political parties to put the country's interests before their own.

Influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr, whose movement gained the biggest number of seats in the last parliament, boycotted this election.