Beirut, October 4, 2024 — A series of Israeli airstrikes struck Beirut late Thursday, unleashing massive explosions near the city’s international airport as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated to alarming new levels. Strikes targeted Dahieh, a southern suburb known as a Hezbollah stronghold, with the intent to eliminate key figures in the Shia militant group.
Smoke billowed over Beirut as residents woke to scenes of devastation. According to U.S. media outlets, strikes were aimed at Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah leader and cousin of the group’s former head Hassan Nasrallah. Safieddine, widely seen as a likely successor to Nasrallah, had become a top target after his cousin was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that 37 people were killed in the past 24 hours of ground and air attacks, with an additional 151 injured. Hospitals in Beirut and southern Lebanon have been overwhelmed by a surge in casualties, many of whom are civilians caught in the crossfire.
Lebanese Army Involvement and Civilian Exodus
Lebanese army confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces pushed deeper into Hezbollah-controlled territory. In a rare instance of army engagement in conflict, one soldier died during an evacuation mission in Taybeh, coordinated with the Lebanese Red Cross, which saw four volunteers lightly wounded. Hours later, another soldier was killed when Israeli artillery struck an army post in Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold near the Israeli border.
In response, Israeli military sources acknowledged intensifying conflict but refrained from commenting on fatalities among Lebanese troops. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did, however, confirm that they had killed Hezbollah fighters during clashes along the border. Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for launching attacks on Israeli forces stationed in northern Israel.
On Thursday, IDF ordered the evacuation of over 20 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, further expanding the displacement zone as it moved civilians away from active combat areas. Se new evacuation orders now extend north of Litani River, an area previously demanded by Israel in line with a 2006 UN resolution ending the last major conflict with Hezbollah.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
conflict has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, with thousands of Lebanese civilians fleeing their homes in the south and Hezbollah-controlled areas of Beirut. Speaking to international media, World Food Programme’s country director in Lebanon, Matw Hollingworth, described the situation as dire. “We are seeing black smoke rising over southern Beirut every morning, and displaced families crowd streets, looking for safety. Traffic is backed up for miles as people flee violence,” Hollingworth said.
International Rescue Committee has also warned of worsening conditions in temporary shelters set up in Beirut. According to the latest reports, nearly half of those seeking refuge are children under the age of 15. “Many of the families have fled with nothing, and they are in desperate need of food, water, and medical care,” said Juan Gabriel Wells, Lebanon director for IRC.
Heavy Casualties in Israeli Strikes
In addition to targeting Hezbollah’s leadership, IDF has struck a range of military and civilian infrastructure over the past two weeks. On Thursday alone, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, weapons production facilities, and storage depots. A municipal building in Bint Jbeil was also destroyed, killing at least 15 Hezbollah fighters.
Civilian casualties have also mounted. A residential building in central Beirut was hit by Israeli jets, killing nine people, including seven first responders linked to Hezbollah. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that over 40 paramedics and firefighters have been killed in the past three days during Israeli attacks on civil defense teams.
As Israeli airstrikes continued, Hezbollah launched a series of retaliatory rocket attacks into northern Israel, with IDF reporting over 230 projectiles fired on Thursday. While most rockets were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems or landed in open areas, the continued barrage has kept Israeli communities near the border under constant threat.
Diplomatic Deadlock
ongoing violence has spurred international calls for de-escalation, but diplomatic efforts have so far failed to halt fighting. Israel’s military campaign is focused on neutralizing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, citing the need to protect its northern communities from ongoing rocket, missile, and drone attacks that have intensified over the past year.
For Hezbollah, conflict represents a fight for dominance in Lebanon and resistance against Israeli aggression. Although the group has suffered significant losses, it continues to assert its presence in southern Lebanon, vowing to repel any further Israeli advances.
As the conflict enters its third full day of the invasion, Lebanon faces mounting casualties, large-scale displacement, and widespread destruction. With no clear end in sight, the humanitarian toll is expected to rise, and the region remains on edge as both sides prepare for further confrontation.
