Beirut: On Saturday, fresh Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group. AFP images captured fires raging in several areas south of Lebanon’s capital, while Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television reported that multiple locations in the group’s bastion had been hit by “successive Zionist strikes.”
The Israeli military confirmed that its forces had launched strikes on Hezbollah’s central headquarters, located beneath residential buildings in Beirut. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s military spokesperson, stated that the strikes targeted the group’s main command center. Residents in three buildings were reportedly told to evacuate before the airstrikes, which continued into the early hours of Saturday.
The explosions mark the most intense strikes on the Lebanese capital in the past year, as Israel continues its campaign against Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to the United States, returning to Israel amid the escalating conflict. Earlier, he addressed the United Nations, pledging to continue the campaign against Hezbollah, reducing hopes for an internationally mediated ceasefire.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that over 720 people have been killed this week due to the escalating violence. Israeli officials have threatened further destruction in Lebanon if Hezbollah continues firing rockets into northern Israel, mirroring the ongoing devastation in Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Hezbollah’s involvement has triggered widespread displacement, with the International Organization for Migration estimating that over 200,000 people have fled their homes in Lebanon.
As the conflict intensifies, fears grow that Israel’s military actions in Gaza could soon be replicated in Lebanon, further destabilizing the region.
