At least nine people have been killed and nearly 60 others injured in an Israeli attack on a southern suburb of Beirut.
This is the first such Israeli attack on Lebanon’s capital in months.
The Israeli strike on Beirut’s crowded southern suburbs hit during rush hour, as people headed home from work and children left school.
Local networks broadcast footage showed that at least two buildings completely flattened and the main street ravaged in Dahiyeh, just kilometers from downtown Beirut where Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group holds sway.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying that it hit near key Hezbollah facilities in Dahiyeh, a neighbourhood of southern Beirut.
“The [Israeli military] conducted a targeted strike in Beirut. At this moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines,” it said, providing no further details.
Israeli army Arabic spokesperson, Avichai Adraee said that several other Hezbollah commanders have been killed alongside senior military official Ibrahim Aqil in the attack in Beirut.
The Lebanese group has not commented on the air strikes.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said that five children are among the victims of the attack on a building in the Lebanese capital.
Lebanon’s Civil Defence called on residents to evacuate area.
The agency urged people to avoid the area around the building that was destroyed by the Israeli air raids “for their own safety and to facilitate” the work of rescuers looking for survivors in the rubble.
It was also reported that Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi ordered a security perimeter to be set up around the site.
White House spokesman, John Kirby said that he was not aware of any effort by Israel to notify the US before carrying out the strike in Beirut.
Kirby told reporters that the US strongly urges its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon.
“President Joe Biden’s administration does not want to see further escalation in the region,” he added.
Iran’s Embassy In Lebanon Condemns “Israeli Madness And Arrogance”
Iran’s embassy in Lebanon condemned Israel’s recent attacks on Beirut.
In a post on X, the Iranian embassy wrote, “In the strongest terms the Israeli madness and arrogance that crossed all limits by targeting residential areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut.”
“We reaffirm once again that such terrorist crimes will not undermine the determination and faith of the Lebanese. Our sincere condolences to the families of the martyrs and our wishes for a speedy recovery for the wounded.”
Iran’s embassy in Lebanon
According to Rami Khoury, a Professor at the American University of Beirut, the latest Israeli attack on the southern Beirut suburbs demonstrates how Israel’s army feels emboldened by the unwavering support of the United States.
“Israel [is] on a rampage,” Khoury told a news agency, adding that while he does not believe an all-out regional war is imminent, an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah appears inevitable.
Israel has long sought to defeat Hezbollah, which is better equipped than Hamas and has closer ties to Iran.
“The problem is it has tried this many times without success,” Khoury added.
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