Israel and Lebanese Shia Muslim organization Hezbollah continue to engage in fierce bombardment against each other, and there are no signs of reaching a ceasefire.

Israeli forces have been conducting their intense attacks in southern Lebanon. They announced on Wednesday that they had destroyed weapons storage facilities and other Hezbollah targets in the Beirut area.

Hezbollah also has not backed off in its rocket and drone strikes on Israel. The group said it had carried out an attack on a military facility in northern Israel.

The Israeli military says six of its soldiers were killed in a ground operation in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

The United States is stepping up its effort to arrange a ceasefire in Lebanon, but Israel maintains its hardline stance.

The country's Defense Minister Israel Katz said he would not agree to any ceasefire in Lebanon that does not ensure Israel's goals, including Hezbollah's disarmament.

Reuters news agency quoted several diplomats as saying that it would be almost impossible for Hezbollah to accept any proposal that includes such a demand from Israel.