In the early hours of this morning, Israel launched an airstrike on central Beirut, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals, following a particularly deadly day for its forces engaged in ongoing conflicts against Iran-supported Hezbollah.
Israel confirmed it executed a targeted air strike on Beirut.
Witnesses from Reuters reported hearing a significant explosion, with a security source indicating that the strike hit a building in the Bachoura neighborhood of central Beirut, not far from the parliament.
According to Lebanese health officials, at least six people were killed and seven others were injured.
An apartment building was damaged by the Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s Bashura neighborhood.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged residents of Lebanese villages who had evacuated to refrain from returning until further notice. “IDF operations are ongoing,” spokesperson Adraee stated on social media.
Following Iran’s launch of over 180 missiles into Israel, Israel reported the deaths of eight soldiers in ground confrontations in southern Lebanon as its military operations expanded into the neighboring country.
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The Israeli military reported that conventional infantry and armored units participated in their ground operations in Lebanon yesterday, amidst fears that the missile attack from Iran and Israel’s vow of retaliation could embroil the oil-rich Middle East in a broader conflict.
Hezbollah announced that its fighters engaged Israeli forces within Lebanon, marking the first ground clashes since Israeli troops crossed the border on Monday.
Hezbollah claimed to have destroyed three Israeli Merkava tanks using rockets near the border town of Maroun El Ras.
An aerial view illustrates smoke rising in the aftermath of the strikes in Beirut.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “We are currently facing a challenging war against Iran’s Axis of Evil, which intends to obliterate us.”
“This will not transpire, as we will unite, and with God’s assistance, we will prevail together,” he asserted.
Lebanon’s health ministry indicated that Israeli airstrikes claimed at least 46 lives in the southern and central regions of the country over the past 24 hours.
Iran announced yesterday that its missile barrage – the largest ever launched at Israel – was concluded, barring any further provocations; however, both Israel and the United States vowed strong retaliation.
US President Joe Biden stated he would not endorse any Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to its missile assault and urged Israel to take “proportional” actions against its regional nemesis.
Mr. Biden participated in a call with other leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) to synchronize a response, which may include additional sanctions on Tehran, according to the White House.
Leaders of the G7 expressed “strong concern” regarding the crisis in the Middle East but maintained that a diplomatic resolution was still achievable, emphasizing that a region-wide conflict would not serve anyone’s interests.
China urged the United Nations Security Council to take “urgent actions” aimed at de-escalating the situation in the Middle East.
“The Security Council is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security,” stated China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, during a Security Council briefing yesterday, as reported by Xinhua.
More than 1,900 people have died and over 9,000 have been injured in Lebanon amidst nearly a year of cross-border hostilities.
Mr. Fu remarked that all parties “must return to the path of political and diplomatic solutions.”
Hezbollah claimed to have repelled Israeli forces from various border towns and to have fired rockets at military installations within Israel.
The media chief of the paramilitary group, Mohammad Afif, stated that these clashes were merely “the first round” and asserted that Hezbollah possesses sufficient fighters, weapons, and ammunition to defend against Israel.
Israel’s enlistment of infantry and armored units from the 36th Division, including the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armoured Brigade, and the 6th Infantry Brigade, implies that their operations might extend beyond confined commando missions.
The Israeli military has asserted that its incursion primarily aims to dismantle tunnels and other border infrastructure, with no imminent plans for a broader campaign targeting Beirut or major southern cities.
Nonetheless, it has issued new evacuation orders for approximately two dozen towns along the southern border, advising residents to relocate north of the Awali River, which flows east to west about 60 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Read more: Latest Middle East stories
According to Lebanese government statistics, over 1,900 individuals have perished and more than 9,000 have been injured in Lebanon over nearly a year of cross-border warfare, with the majority of fatalities occurring in the past two weeks.
The caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reported that around 1.2 million Lebanese have been forced to flee their homes due to Israeli assaults.
Iran characterized Tuesday’s missile strike as a retaliation for the Israeli killings of militant leaders, including Nasrallah, assaults in Lebanon targeting the group, and Israel’s conflict against Iran-supported Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.
No casualties were reported in Israel from the missile barrage, though one individual died in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
