Israel has announced that it targeted the intelligence headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut and is currently assessing the damage following a series of strikes on prominent figures within the group, which Iran’s Supreme Leader has deemed counterproductive.
The Israeli government is evaluating its response options after an Iranian ballistic missile attack, which was executed in retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.
Oil prices have surged due to the possibility of an attack on Iran’s oil facilities as Israel aims to push back Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and eliminate their Hamas counterparts in Gaza.
The airstrike on Beirut is part of a broader offensive that has displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese from their homes and reportedly targeted a potential successor to the Iran-backed Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel a week ago.
People flee Israeli bombardment as over 1.2 million Lebanese have been forced from their homes.
A loud explosion was heard, and smoke was observed rising over the southern suburbs of Beirut early in the day, according to Reuters witnesses, shortly after the Israeli military issued alerts for residents of the area to evacuate immediately.
US President Joe Biden stated that if he were in Israel’s position, he would consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields, adding that he believes Israel has yet to finalize its response to Iran.
The Lebanese government reports that over 2,000 people have died in the country over the past year, with most casualties occurring in the last two weeks.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric characterized the civilian toll as “totally unacceptable.”
Residents inspect the destruction following an Israeli strike in Beirut.
The Lebanese government has accused Israel of targeting civilians, citing the deaths of dozens of women and children. However, it has not specified the breakdown between civilians and Hezbollah fighters.
Israel claims it targets military capabilities and takes precautions to reduce civilian casualties. The government accuses Hezbollah and Hamas of operating within civilian areas, a claim that both groups deny.
The US State Department has confirmed that an American was killed in Lebanon this week, and officials are seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Kamel Ahmad Jawad, from Dearborn, Michigan, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike, as confirmed by his daughter, a friend, and the US congresswoman representing his district.
Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike near the villages of Mansouri and Majdelzoun in southern Lebanon.
The ongoing violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be traced back to an attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, with about 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.
In response, Israel’s assault on Gaza has reportedly killed over 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, displacing nearly the entire population of Gaza, precipitating a hunger crisis, and leading to allegations of genocide, which Israel refutes.
Read more about the conflict in the Middle East.
The Israeli military reported that approximately 70 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some being intercepted or landing in open areas.
This week, Israel sent ground forces into Lebanon following the Iranian missile attacks. The military stated that its ground operations are “localized” in villages near the border but did not disclose how deep into Lebanon they would advance or the expected duration of the operations.
According to Israel, these operations aim to facilitate the return of tens of thousands of its citizens to their homes after evacuations due to Hezbollah bombardments.
Iran vows not to retreat.
Iran’s missile barrage was partially in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah secretary-general Nasrallah, a key figure who transformed the group into a formidable armed and political force across the Middle East.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed a large crowd in Tehran yesterday, asserting that Iran and its regional allies would not back down.
He urged Israel’s adversaries in the region to “double your efforts and capabilities… and resist the aggressive enemy,” during a rare appearance leading Friday prayers, where he referenced Mr. Nasrallah and deemed Iran’s attack on Israel as legal and legitimate.
Khamenei reiterated that Iran would not “procrastinate nor act hastily in fulfilling its duty” to confront Israel.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei characterized the 7 October attacks as ‘logical and legal.’
Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani mentioned that the military is still evaluating airstrikes, which he reported were aimed at Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters.
Earlier, the Israeli military confirmed that it had killed Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the head of Hezbollah’s communication networks, but did not comment on reports regarding Mr. Safieddine being targeted.
Hezbollah has yet to comment on the status of Mr. Sakafi.
The remnants of Beirut’s buildings.
In Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, many structures have been reduced to rubble.
The Islamic Health Authority, a civil defense organization linked to Hezbollah, stated that 11 medics had died in three separate Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military reported hitting several weapons storage facilities, command and control centers, and Hezbollah sites in the Beirut region over the past day.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, visiting Beirut and meeting with senior Lebanese officials, expressed Iran’s support for efforts toward a ceasefire in Lebanon, provided it aligns with Hezbollah’s backing and coincides with a ceasefire in Gaza.
