There is a U.S. effort to de-escalate Israeli actions in Lebanon in preparation for consolidating the ceasefire and moving to the second phase of negotiations, a Lebanese official told Al-Jazeera on Thursday.

A dozen U.S. Democratic Senators have called for the U.S. Central Command to answer questions about American coordination with Israel in declaring broad " evacuation zones " in Lebanon and Iran, alleging that the practice may violate international law.

The letter underlines how the Democratic Party — both its leaders and the base — has grown increasingly critical of Israel.

The British and Canadian Ambassadors to Lebanon co-hosted a reception in Beirut to mark Lebanese Media Martyrs’ Day and World Press Freedom Day. They paid tribute to journalists who have lost their lives reporting on the devastating conflict, and to those who continue to report under challenging and dangerous conditions.

The event was attended by Minister of Information Dr Paul Morcos, former Minister of Information Ziad Makari, Lebanese and foreign journalists, Media Freedom Coalition Ambassadors, with Finland as co-chair this year, MPs and NGOs. The attendees marked the gathering with a moment of silence for all the journalists who died in the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday claimed responsibility for the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut the previous day, saying "no terrorist is immune" from Israeli strikes.

"Last night, we eliminated, in the heart of Beirut, the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force," Netanyahu said, in a video released by his office, referring to an elite Hezbollah unit.

The Israeli military said Thursday it would investigate after a soldier was photographed placing a cigarette in the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon.

An image appearing to show an Israeli soldier with his arm around the revered Christian figure and holding a cigarette up to her mouth was widely shared on social media on Wednesday.

In Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Israeli strikes reduced a building complex to a metal shell, student Rana walked towards her home, though like many others she fears the full-scale eruption of war again.

The Israelis “are not reliable, they can strike again at any moment,” said the young woman, refusing to give her full name.

Israeli strikes targeted Thursday the southern city of Nabatieh and other villages and towns in south Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli troops and equipment in al-Bayyada and Deir Seryan.

Strikes targeted overnight into Thursday al-Majadel, Debbine, Mayfadoun, Habboush, Yater, Dweir, Bouyout al-Siyyed, Kfar Roumman, Harees, Reshknanay, and Erzi, while shelling targeted Aita al-Shaab, Ramia, Shaqra, Baraashit, Ghandourieh, Kfour, Deir Zahrani, Sreefa, Froun, Qalaway, Burj Qalaway, Zebqine and Wadi al-Hjeir.

The Israeli military said in a statement Thursday that an "explosive drone impact" had wounded four of its soldiers -- one severely -- in southern Lebanon the previous day.

Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs Wednesday in the first such attack in nearly a month, killing a senior Hezbollah commander from its elite Radwan force.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday, targeting a top Hezbollah commander.

"The Israeli army has struck in Beirut to target the commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force, in an attempt to neutralize him," a joint statement issued by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

An Israeli strike in Lebanon's West Bekaa killed four people on Wednesday, while the Israeli army said it struck Hezbollah targets in the south, after warning residents of a dozen towns to evacuate.

Israel and Hezbollah have been trading accusations of violating the ceasefire agreement in force since April 17. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for several operations targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, as well as attacks on northern Israel.