Israeli strikes hit Beirut amid threats on Iranian officials in Lebanon | Israel attacks Lebanon News
Israeli Strikes Hit Southern Beirut Amid Intensified Conflict
Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut early Thursday, according to state-run media reports. The strikes occurred as Israel’s ultimatum demanding Iranian officials leave Lebanon expired. This military action is part of a broader escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported multiple strikes in the neighborhoods of Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel’s military had issued forced displacement orders for these areas, warning residents of impending attacks on what it described as Hezbollah-linked targets. The military specifically mentioned a facility utilized by Hezbollah’s aerial units, though it did not provide supporting evidence for this claim.
On Wednesday, Israel gave Iranian representatives in Lebanon a 24-hour notice to vacate the country; that deadline has since lapsed.
Heidi Pett of Al Jazeera, reporting from Beirut, noted that Iranian officials perceive this as a threat against their embassy, heightening tensions further. Human Rights Watch expressed concern, suggesting that such threats may indicate an intent to violate international law, which prohibits targeting individuals not directly involved in hostilities.
Gunfire was reported throughout the night as residents attempted to alert others to the possibility of Israeli strikes. Pett remarked that these forced evacuation warnings often come in the early hours, leaving many unaware until gunfire serves as a warning signal.
Israeli Forces Push Into Southern Lebanon
Simultaneous to the strikes in Beirut, Israeli forces continued their offensive in southern Lebanon, particularly in the al-Shahabiya district of Tyre and the city of Nabatieh. No immediate casualties have been reported from these locations either.
Hezbollah confirmed that its fighters are engaged in clashes with Israeli troops in the town of Dahira, located in the far south of Lebanon. The group has also conducted aerial attacks targeting northern Israel.
The ongoing ground offensive aims to establish a buffer zone and prevent further advances by Hezbollah. On Thursday, the Israeli army reiterated evacuation warnings, advising residents to move north of the Litani River and stating that proximity to Hezbollah sites could endanger lives.
Rory Challands, reporting from Amman, indicated a growing fear among Lebanese citizens that the Israeli military’s actions may signal a prolonged presence or potential invasion of territory.
Additional strikes were reported in northern Lebanon, specifically in the Beddawi refugee camp near Tripoli, resulting in at least two fatalities. Sources within the camp stated that a Hamas official was among those killed, suggesting the attack may have been deliberate.
Since the start of hostilities earlier this week, Lebanese sources have reported around 75 deaths and more than 400 injuries due to Israeli attacks, alongside significant displacement of civilians. Notable incidents include the bombing of the Comfort Hotel on the border of Hazmieh and Baabda, which are part of greater Beirut, and a strike in Baalbek, close to the Syrian border, that killed at least five individuals.
