Israeli fighter jets have carried out a series of airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, leading to panicked families fleeing the area. Following heavy shelling on Friday, Israel issued fresh warnings for people to evacuate part of the densely populated Dahiyeh suburbs. Hundreds of families spent the night seeking shelter in Martyrs’ Square or along the seaside boardwalk. The airstrikes were said to target Hezbollah’s headquarters and weapons facilities, with reports that Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader, was the target.
The airstrikes were the fiercest on Hezbollah’s stronghold since the 2006 war between Israel and the group. Israel Defense Forces reported intercepting projectiles fired from Lebanon and urged residents in northern areas to take precautions. Hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs were evacuated after the heavy Israeli strikes, with the health ministry urging hospitals in unaffected areas to stop admitting non-urgent cases.
The escalation in tensions raised fears of further conflict involving Iran, Hezbollah’s backer, and the United States. The Lebanese health ministry reported casualties from the attack, with several buildings destroyed in the Haret Hreik neighborhood. Hezbollah retaliated by launching rockets at Israeli cities Safed, Karmiel, and Sa’ar. The Israeli military claimed to have killed Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon, leading to more families fleeing Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Amid the escalating crisis, Joe Biden directed the Pentagon to reassess American forces in the Middle East, and the European Union’s foreign affairs chief expressed regret over the situation. Tens of thousands protested in Iranian cities and Yemen to condemn the Israeli attacks. The airstrikes came after a defiant speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly, where he declared Israel was “winning” its wars on multiple fronts. The UN Secretary-General reiterated calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
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