September 27th 2024.
The city of Beirut was rocked by a series of massive explosions on Friday, as the Israeli military claimed to have struck the central headquarters of Hezbollah. The resulting destruction leveled multiple buildings and sent plumes of orange and black smoke billowing into the sky.
These strikes, which occurred in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations. In his speech, he made it clear that Israel's campaign against Hezbollah would not cease. This further dampened hopes for a peace deal that could prevent an all-out war from breaking out.
According to reports from three major Israeli TV channels, the target of the strikes was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, these reports could not be confirmed by The Associated Press, and the army declined to comment. However, given the magnitude and timing of the explosions, it was highly likely that a high-value target was inside the buildings that were hit.
In an unprecedented move, Israel has been targeting the senior leadership of Hezbollah in this conflict. Friday's bombings were the most powerful seen in Beirut in the past year. The Israeli army spokesperson, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, stated that the main headquarters of Hezbollah, located beneath residential buildings, was the target. The militant group's TV station, Al-Manar, reported that four buildings in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Dahiyeh were completely destroyed. The blast was so powerful that it could be felt 30 kilometers away in the northern part of Beirut. Ambulances were quickly dispatched to the scene, their sirens blaring.
According to officials at a nearby hospital, at least 10 people were injured in the strikes, with three in critical condition, including a young Syrian child. Israel has significantly intensified its airstrikes in Lebanon this week, with the goal of ending the 11-month-long barrage of rockets and missiles launched by Hezbollah into its territory. The full extent of Israel's operation is still unclear, but there have been talks of a potential ground invasion to push the militant group away from the border. In preparation for this, thousands of troops have been deployed to the border.
As tensions continue to escalate, the death toll in Lebanon has risen to over 720, with at least 25 people killed in Israeli strikes on Friday alone. Among the victims was a family of nine in the predominantly Sunni town of Chebaa, near the border. The family's home was hit in a predawn strike, killing the parents, their five children, and two grandchildren.
At the UN, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel's goal is to "continue degrading Hezbollah" until their objectives are met. This statement has dampened hopes for a 21-day truce proposed by the US to allow for a diplomatic solution. However, Hezbollah has not yet responded to this proposal.
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and is the most powerful armed force in Lebanon, has been firing rockets into Israel since the militant group Hamas launched an attack on October 7th. This was seen as a show of support for the Palestinians. Since then, both sides have engaged in almost daily exchanges of fire, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes on both sides of the border.
According to an Israeli security official, a potential war against Hezbollah would not last as long as the current conflict in Gaza, as Israel's goals are much more narrow. In Gaza, the goal is to dismantle Hamas' military and political regime, while in Lebanon, the aim is to push Hezbollah away from the border with Israel. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, believes that this is a more achievable goal than the one in Gaza and would require less time.
The Israeli military has confirmed that they carried out numerous strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday, targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and infrastructure. In response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets towards the northern Israeli city of Tiberias.
In the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, two women, 35-year-old Hiba Ataya and her mother Sabah Olyan, were killed when a strike brought down their building. As their bodies were pulled from the rubble, one man cried out in grief, identifying his loved ones. Israel claims that its intensified strikes this week have significantly damaged Hezbollah's weapons capabilities, and several of their top commanders have been assassinated. However, the group still boasts a large arsenal of rockets and missiles, and their remaining capabilities are unknown.
Despite the losses they have suffered, Hezbollah officials and their supporters remain defiant. Before the explosions on Friday evening, thousands had gathered for the funeral of three Hezbollah members killed in earlier strikes. The group's head in Beirut, Hussein Fadlallah, made a speech in which he stated that no matter how many commanders Israel kills, they have an endless number of experienced fighters ready to deploy on the front lines. Fadlallah also vowed that Hezbollah will continue to fight until Israel ceases its offensive in Gaza, showing their unwavering support for Palestine and the oppressed people of Gaza.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
