Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut early Wednesday morning, marking the first instance of such an attack in six days, according to reports from Lebanese state media. The number of casualties from this latest assault has yet to be determined.
The airstrike occurred just a day after Najib Mikati, the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, indicated that the U.S. government had provided reassurances that Israel would be reducing its military actions within Beirut.
Israel has stated that its operations aim to dismantle Hezbollah facilities located in the suburbs, an area where the militant group maintains a significant presence, alongside being a densely populated residential and commercial region. The Israeli Defense Forces indicated that the strike on Wednesday targeted an arms depot situated beneath a residential structure.
An evacuation alert was issued by the Israeli military via the X platform, specifying their intention to target a building in the Haret Hreik neighborhood. A photographer on the scene reported three airstrikes in the area, with the first strike recorded just under an hour after the alert was issued.
On October 8, Hezbollah initiated rocket fire into Israel in a show of support for the Palestinian group Hamas, following its unexpected assault on southern Israel. This escalation has evolved from nearly a year of sporadic conflict into full-scale warfare, resulting in the displacement of around 1.2 million individuals in Lebanon.
In a separate incident, Israeli strikes in the southern town of Qana late Tuesday reportedly led to the deaths of 10 individuals and injuries to 15 others, as per Lebanon’s National News Agency.
