Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday in a bid to kickstart stalled cease-fire talks and prevent further regional escalation. Latest DevelopmentsOct 23, 8:13 AMGaza polio vaccine campaign postponed due to 'intense' attacks,

An Israeli airstrike late Monday in Beirut night destroyed several buildings across the street from the country’s largest public hospital, killing 18 people and wounding at least 60 others. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah target, without elaborating, and said that it hadn’t targeted the hospital itself.

At a Security Council meeting, Blinken reiterated the U.S. position that Israel has the right to defend itself after the “slaughter of its people.’’