Israel launched a major airstrike on central Beirut early Saturday morning, killing at least 11 people and injuring 63 others in an attempt to kill senior Hezbollah leader Muhammad Haydar.
The strike hit an 8-story building, reducing it to rubble and leaving a massive crater. While it is unclear if Haydar, who has risen to a prominent position in the group since the death of its long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, was among those killed, the attack targeted him as part of ongoing Israeli efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s leadership.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not issue any prior warning to the residents of the building before carrying out the attack. This airstrike marks Israel’s fourth on Beirut in less than a week, escalating tensions in the region.
Haydar, who serves as a senior member of Hezbollah’s military leadership, was listed by the U.S. as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” in 2019. The attack also comes amid Israel’s broader campaign to weaken Hezbollah’s military capabilities in Lebanon.
In addition to the strike in central Beirut, Israeli forces launched several other attacks on the southern suburbs of the capital, a Hezbollah stronghold. These strikes targeted multiple command centres and weapons storage facilities in the Dahiyeh region. The IDF issued a warning to residents in these areas, advising them to evacuate at least 500 yards from the targeted sites.
Elsewhere, in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, a separate Israeli drone strike killed two teenage fishermen. Reports indicate that the young victims were setting up fishing nets when they were targeted, raising concerns over the ongoing civilian toll in the region.
As of Saturday, the death toll in Lebanon has risen to 3,500, with more than 15,000 people injured. The Lebanese Health Ministry expects the numbers to rise as rescue operations continue, with many still trapped under the debris from the latest strikes.
Meanwhile, Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza have killed 120 Palestinians in the past two days, with many of the victims being civilians. Among those killed was a family of seven who died when their home was destroyed in an overnight airstrike.
The IDF also targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, severely damaging the facility and injuring at least 12 staff members, including doctors and nurses. Hospital officials reported that the strikes targeted the emergency and reception areas, forcing medical staff to evacuate.
The Israeli military, in response to the attack on the hospital, stated that they were “not aware of a strike in the area of Kamal Adwan Hospital” but emphasised their commitment to avoiding civilian casualties.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 44,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The majority of these casualties are civilians, and the toll continues to rise as the situation worsens.
Amid the escalating violence, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday. Austin reiterated the U.S. commitment to improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He stressed the importance of a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon to ensure the safety of civilians on both sides of the border.
