Beirut – A series of heavy airstrikes rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs early Sunday, marking an escalation in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah. Strikes, lasting nearly 30 minutes, illuminated the Lebanese capital with red and white flashes visible from miles away, eyewitnesses reported. Se latest attacks targeted Hezbollah’s weapons storage facilities and military infrastructure, according to a statement from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Strikes come amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon. Israeli forces have been conducting operations in Beirut’s southern suburbs, known to be Hezbollah strongholds, since the assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on September 27. Nasrallah was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s central command headquarters.
The Israeli military also stated that before strikes, it took measures to minimize civilian casualties by issuing warnings to residents in targeted areas. Despite the efforts, ongoing bombardment has had a severe impact on Beirut’s densely populated suburbs, particularly Dahiyeh district.
Potential Successor Missing
Lebanese security sources reported that Hashem Safieddine, a high-ranking Hezbollah official and potential successor to Nasrallah, has been out of contact since Friday. Israeli airstrikes near Beirut’s international airport, believed to have targeted Safieddine, have fueled speculation about his fate. Hezbollah has yet to comment on his status, but the loss of an or senior leader would deal a significant blow to the group’s leadership, which has been repeatedly targeted by Israel over the past year.
Israel’s recent actions are part of a broader strategy to weaken Hezbollah’s military capabilities. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, announced on Saturday that Israel has killed over 440 Hezbollah fighters and destroyed 2,000 of its military positions during its ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Civilians Caught in Crossfire
escalating violence has devastated Lebanon’s civilian population. Hundreds of Lebanese citizens have been killed since strikes began, and number of displaced people has surged past 1.2 million, according to Lebanese officials. This represents nearly a quarter of the country’s total population, and humanitarian agencies are warning of an impending crisis as more families are forced from their homes.
On Saturday, Israeli forces conducted the first strikes in Tripoli, Lebanon’s northern city. A Palestinian refugee camp was among the targets, where a member of Hamas, his wife, and two children were killed. Hamas’ armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed the deaths of two of its fighters, including Saeed Atallah, a senior commander.
The Israeli military said that two Hamas operatives were killed in Lebanon, though it did not specify if they were in Tripoli. Se strikes mark a further expansion of Israel’s military actions, which were previously concentrated in southern Lebanon and Beirut.
Broader Regional Implications
renewed hostilities in Lebanon come amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has now entered its second year. On Monday, Israel will commemorate the first anniversary of Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the capture of around 250 hostages. War in Gaza has taken a catastrophic toll, with nearly 42,000 Palestinians killed and almost the entire population of Gaza—2.3 million people—displaced, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
International protests have erupted in major cities worldwide as the civilian death toll in both Lebanon and Gaza continues to rise. Calls for a ceasefire have grown louder, though diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
Adding to regional tensions, Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, launched ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this week. Missiles caused minimal damage, but the potential for further escalation remains high. Oil prices have surged due to fears that Israel may retaliate by targeting Iranian oil infrastructure, an action U.S. President Joe Biden has urged Israel to reconsider. High-level U.S. military officials, including Army General Michael “Eric” Kurilla, are currently in the region for consultations with Israeli leaders.
As conflict shows no signs of abating, the situation in Lebanon and Gaza remains dire, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the violence. Coming weeks are likely to see further developments as Israel pushes forward with its operations against Hezbollah and considers its next steps in response to Iran’s missile strikes.
International Reactions
the international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations warning of a growing refugee crisis in Lebanon. Western nations, including the United States and the European Union, have called for restraint but have so far refrained from direct intervention. Iran has vowed to continue supporting Hezbollah, raising concerns that conflict could escalate into a broader regional war.
In the meantime, Israeli forces remain on high alert along the northern border with Lebanon, while Hezbollah’s capacity to retaliate remains uncertain as its leadership faces further decimation.
