BEIRUT: The Israeli military announced on Friday that it targeted the central headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, resulting in a series of powerful explosions that leveled multiple buildings and sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the attack. However, media reports quoting Hezbollah sources say that Hassan Nasrallah was “fine” after a massive Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs while two others were killed and 76 others were injured in the attacks.
The strikes occurred shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations, saying that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah would persist, dampening hopes for a ceasefire.
Reports from three major Israeli television channels said that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the intended target of the strikes.
“Target of the strike: Nasrallah. The IDF (Israeli military) is checking whether the secretary-general of Hezbollah was in the building in the heart of Dahiyeh (that was hit),” Channel 12 reported.
The Israeli military has intensified its efforts to eliminate Hezbollah’s senior leadership, with Friday’s bombings marking some of the most significant attacks in Beirut in the past year. The Israeli army spokesperson confirmed that the main Hezbollah headquarters, located beneath residential buildings, was targeted.
Eyewitnesses reported that four buildings in the Haret Hreik neighborhood were destroyed, with the impact felt as far as 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the capital. Hospitals nearby received at least 10 casualties, including three in critical condition.
In response to persistent Hezbollah attacks, Israel has ramped up its airstrikes, aiming to deter further aggression from the militant group. As tensions escalate, officials speculate about the possibility of a ground invasion aimed at pushing Hezbollah away from the border.
The death toll in Lebanon has risen sharply, with Health Minister Firass Abiad reporting at least 25 fatalities from Friday’s strikes alone, bringing the week’s total to over 720, including numerous women and children.
While Netanyahu vowed to continue operations against Hezbollah, the group’s leadership remains defiant, asserting their commitment to supporting Palestine and resisting Israeli aggression. Hussein Fadlallah, a Hezbollah leader, emphasized their readiness to fight, stating, “We will not abandon the support of Palestine, Jerusalem, and oppressed Gaza.”
As military actions intensify, analysts note the complex dynamics at play, with Hezbollah maintaining significant rocket capabilities despite Israel’s efforts to degrade its infrastructure.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the international community to “stop” Israel from waging a “genocidal war” against Lebanon, following a huge Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“This new Israeli aggression proves that the Israeli enemy doesn’t care about all the international efforts and calls for a ceasefire,” Mikati, who is in New York, said in a statement issued by his office, urging the international community to stop the “genocidal war that it (Israel) is waging on Lebanon”.
