Israel Launches Airstrikes on Lebanon: Mayor Killed
The Israeli military conducted a new round of airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichai Adraee claimed on social media platform X that the attack targeted an underground weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah.
Adraee also stated that they took “various measures” to minimize damage to civilians and emphasized that evacuation orders were issued to residents in the area. The United Nations reported that Israel’s evacuation orders affected more than a quarter of the entire country.
This latest attack marks Israel’s first airstrike on Beirut in the past 6 days. Witnesses reported seeing dust clouds rising from two buildings in the aftermath of the attack. According to Reuters, Israel’s evacuation order only covered one building. Israeli media had previously alleged that President Biden had reached an agreement with the Israeli government not to strike Beirut.
Lebanese President Najib Mikati had stated that they received assurances from the US government that Beirut would not be targeted.
Mayor of Nabatiye Killed in Israeli Airstrikes
In addition to the airstrikes on Beirut, the Israeli military also launched intense aerial attacks on the southern city of Nabatiye. According to Lebanon’s official news agency NNA, Israeli warplanes bombed at least 7 locations in different neighborhoods of Nabatiye.
The pro-Hezbollah newspaper, el-Ahbar, reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the Nabatiye Municipality, which was still operational in the city, resulting in the death of 3 people, including the mayor.
Social media posts depicted powerful explosions and rising smoke in areas of Nabatiye where Israeli warplanes had conducted heavy bombardments on densely populated civilian areas.
Israel’s airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut on the morning of October 10th marked the first such attack since then.
146 Attacks in the Last 24 Hours
The Israeli military reportedly carried out a total of 146 airstrikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours. These attacks followed threats made by Adraee against Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut. Israel had not launched any attacks on Beirut since October 10th.
Since October 8, 2023, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, resulting in hundreds of attacks across Lebanon. According to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, these conflicts have claimed the lives of 2,350 individuals and left 10,906 injured. Among the casualties are 104 children and 194 women.
Hezbollah Responds to Israeli Attacks
A written statement from Hezbollah confirmed that missile attacks targeted the Yiftah settlement and the city of Safed on the northern Israeli border. The statement also mentioned artillery strikes on Israeli forces in the Delton and Dişun areas along the Israeli border.
International Reactions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is visiting Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey to halt the “attacks and brutality” in the region. Iran is attempting to unite countries that share common views on Gaza and Lebanon.
Western nations have criticized Israel’s conduct of the war. During a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Macron’s planned conference in Lebanon. Netanyahu expressed his refusal to accept any ceasefire that would allow Hezbollah to rearm.
The United States has given Israel a 30-day ultimatum to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If Israel fails to act within this period, the US will implement a package of sanctions that could also affect military support. Earlier this week, the US sent the THAAD missile defense system to Israel and dispatched 100 American soldiers to assist in its installation.
