US says it's calling on Israel not to strike Beirut: Report

The United States is allegedly leading a diplomatic effort to dissuade Israel from striking Beirut or major civil infrastructure in Lebanon, according to five sources familiar with the situation, Reuters reported. 

The focus of this rapid diplomatic push has been to limit Israel's attack by urging it not to target densely populated areas of Beirut, Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs, or key infrastructure such as airports and bridges. The sources requested anonymity to discuss confidential details that have not been previously reported.

Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, who has been in contact with US mediator Amos Hochstein since the Golan attack, told Reuters that Israel could avoid major escalation by sparing the capital and its surroundings.

"If they avoid civilians and Beirut and its suburbs, then their attack could be well-calculated," he said.