Israel launched a series of substantial airstrikes overnight in the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting areas beyond a United Nations-declared buffer zone as tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalated.
These strikes followed Israel’s warnings for residents to evacuate communities in southern Lebanon amidst ongoing conflict, including a ground incursion into Lebanon that began Tuesday, leading to clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants along the border.
The latest wave of airstrikes occurred after a string of attacks that resulted in the deaths of several key Hezbollah figures, including their longstanding leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut on Friday to discuss the escalating war with Lebanese officials, shortly after Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel—an action that has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.
The airstrikes rocked Beirut, producing enormous plumes of smoke and flames visible miles away, while reports indicate that over ten consecutive strikes occurred late Thursday. There were no immediate details on casualties, and the Israeli military did not comment on the specific targets.
In a significant development, an Israeli airstrike also severed the main road at the busy Masnaa Border Crossing, which has been a critical route for thousands of people fleeing the violence in Lebanon. Footage showed the destruction left behind by the strikes, with craters on either side of the road. As cars could not pass the attack site, individuals were seen crossing on foot with their belongings.
This airstrike on the border crossing came a day after an Israeli military spokesperson reported Hezbollah’s attempts to transport military equipment through the site. Hezbollah is believed to receive much of its arms from Iran via Syria. It has maintained a presence on both sides of the border, often collaborating with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.
Dama Post, a pro-government Syrian media outlet, reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the road linking the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon to the Jdeidet Yabous crossing in Syria, marking the first time this vital border route has been cut since the conflict escalated.
In the week leading up to the airstrike, records indicated that over 256,000 Syrian citizens and more than 82,000 Lebanese citizens crossed into Syria amid the conflict.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating since Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 250 others.
In response to the ongoing violence, the Israeli army conducted a strike in Tulkarem, a known terrorist stronghold in the occupied West Bank, which reportedly killed 18 individuals at a refugee camp.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, violence has surged across the Israeli-occupied territories. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with women and children comprising more than half of the casualties.
Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 individuals have been reported killed in Lebanon since the conflict escalated, particularly following the heavy bombardment of southern Lebanon that began on September 23.
