- Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut, killing at least nine
- Hezbollah claims to push back Israeli forces in the south
- Lebanon reports 1.2 million displaced by Israeli attacks
Israel’s military launched an overnight airstrike on central Beirut, killing at least nine people, following losses in its ground battle with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The strike hit a residential building in Bashoura, near the Lebanese parliament. Health officials confirmed 14 more people were injured, with four still hospitalized.
This is the second Israeli attack on Beirut this week, with Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar TV reporting that the building targeted housed the group’s health unit. The Islamic Health Authority, linked to Hezbollah, stated that seven of its staff, including two medics, were among those killed.
Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan, reporting from the scene, described the explosion’s sound as reverberating across nearby buildings, startling everyone.
In addition, missiles hit Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold, where its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed last week. Nasrallah’s death marked a major blow to the movement and removed Iran’s most influential proxy in the region.
Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, including Yemen’s Houthis and armed factions in Iraq, have intensified their attacks across the Middle East, aligning with Hamas in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The Houthis, who have been disrupting trade in the Red Sea, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv on Thursday. Israeli authorities intercepted an aerial target in central Israel that same day.
Israel also reported killing 15 Hezbollah fighters in an airstrike targeting a municipality building in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, where the fighters were stationed. This follows the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers in ground combat in southern Lebanon, with dozens more injured since the offensive began earlier this week.
Hezbollah, however, claimed its fighters had forced Israeli soldiers to retreat from several border positions. Hezbollah’s media chief, Mohammad Afif, asserted that the conflict was only in its “first round,” and that the group had sufficient manpower and resources to repel Israeli forces.
Reporting from Hasbaiyya in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan noted that Israel had shifted tactics after suffering casualties in ground combat, reverting to its air campaign where it holds a significant advantage. Khan described ongoing exchanges of fire, with Hezbollah launching rockets at Israeli positions, including about 200 rockets on Wednesday.
Hezbollah also claimed to have fired surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli military helicopter over Beit Hillel in northern Israel, forcing it to withdraw. The Israeli military did not comment on the incident.
While Israel has stated its ground operations are focused on destroying tunnels and border infrastructure, it has denied any immediate plans for a broader offensive targeting Beirut or major cities in southern Lebanon. Nevertheless, Israel has issued new evacuation orders for residents of roughly two dozen towns near the southern border, advising them to move north of the Awali River, about 60 kilometers north of the Israeli border.
Start your investing journey with a gift! Claim your free Webull shares
The Israeli military continues to warn residents of evacuated Lebanese villages not to return. Spokesperson Avichay Adraee reiterated that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raids are ongoing.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least 46 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the south and central regions over a 24-hour period. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati noted that roughly 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced by the Israeli attacks.
Prosecutors Accuse Trump of Criminal Acts in 2020 Election Overturn Efforts
