A wave of air raids struck Beirut’s southern suburbs early Saturday as Israel escalated its attacks on Hezbollah, following a significant strike targeting the Iran-backed group’s command center. Reports indicate that more than 20 airstrikes were heard before dawn.
In the wake of the bombardment, thousands of Lebanese residents fled their homes, gathering in downtown Beirut and along the seaside. One resident, Sari, expressed his fears: “They want to destroy Dahiye, they want to destroy all of us,” referring to the suburb he evacuated.
This latest round of airstrikes marked an unprecedented five hours of continuous bombing, the heaviest Israel has inflicted on Beirut since the start of the ongoing conflict. The situation has heightened concerns that the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially involving Iran and the United States.
While the fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remains uncertain following the attacks, a source close to the group stated he was uncontactable, though Iranian sources reported he was safe. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of key Hezbollah commanders but did not specifically state whether Nasrallah was targeted.
The recent escalation has led to a rising death toll, with Lebanese health officials reporting six dead and 91 injured from the initial attack on Friday, which was one of the most severe since the 2006 war with Hezbollah. Overall, more than 700 casualties have been reported in the past week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the United Nations, affirmed Israel’s right to continue its military campaign against Hezbollah. In the meantime, the conflict has displaced over 100,000 people in Lebanon, contributing to a total of more than 200,000 uprooted individuals.
Hezbollah has retaliated with missile strikes on Israeli targets, including Tel Aviv, but damage has been minimal due to effective Israeli air defense systems. Iran has condemned the attacks, labeling them a violation of “red lines,” while U.S. officials stated they were not informed of the Israeli strike beforehand.
The situation remains tense, with calls for diplomatic resolutions as international leaders express concern over the escalating violence.