Israel’s military carried out a very important and impacting airstrike on an intelligence headquarters belonging to Hezbollah in Beirut, escalating the ongoing conflict in the region.
According to Israeli military sources, the strike was specifically targeted at a Hezbollah command centre and an underground weapons facility in the Lebanese capital. This marks a continued series of military actions by Israel against Hezbollah, which has seen an intensification in recent days.
The airstrike, conducted on Sunday, resulted in the death of several high-ranking Hezbollah members. Among those killed was Al-Haj Abbas Salama, a senior commander overseeing Hezbollah’s operations on its Southern Front.
Additionally, Rada Abbas Awada, identified as a senior communications expert, and Ahmad Ali Hussein, the head of Hezbollah's weapons manufacturing unit, were also killed in the attack.
The Israeli military described the operation as "intelligence-based," suggesting careful planning and the use of precise information to strike strategic targets.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has continued to affect the civilian population in Beirut, particularly in the southern suburbs where Hezbollah's headquarters is located.
Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted this area in the past, causing considerable damage and loss of life. Civilians in the region have been warned to evacuate, with the Israeli military signalling the possibility of heavier airstrikes. Reports indicate that the airstrikes have claimed both civilian and Hezbollah fighter casualties.
In addition to the strikes in Beirut, Israeli forces have also been actively targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. Dozens of sites were reportedly attacked by air and ground forces, with the Israeli military claiming to have killed more than 65 Hezbollah fighters in these raids.
These strikes, combined with ground troop operations, have severely impacted Hezbollah's military infrastructure, including rocket launchers and other strategic facilities.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that 13 people were killed and several others were injured as a result of the Israeli airstrikes on various towns and villages in southern and Mount Lebanon. This has added to the growing toll of the ongoing conflict, with both sides engaging in intense military exchanges.
Hezbollah, in retaliation to Israel’s airstrikes, launched around 100 rockets into Western and Upper Galilee in Israel. The Israeli military reported that while some of these rockets were intercepted by their air defence systems, others managed to land in populated areas.
Air raid sirens echoed in the northern Israeli cities of Haifa and surrounding areas, signalling the seriousness of the attacks. Several projectiles were launched towards Haifa Bay, with one being intercepted and two landing in open spaces without causing significant damage.
This latest exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah highlights the ongoing volatility of the region. Both sides have suffered losses, and the civilian population continues to bear the brunt of the violence.
The situation in Lebanon, already fragile due to internal political and economic challenges, has been further complicated by this escalating conflict with Israel.
As the conflict drags on, the international community is watching closely, with calls for de-escalation and efforts to mediate between the two sides. However, with each passing day, the violence only seems to intensify, putting lives at risk and threatening to destabilise the broader region.
The current escalation also underscores the long-standing animosity between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful political and military organisation in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has consistently been a central player in Lebanon’s political landscape, while also engaging in armed resistance against Israel. The latest airstrikes and retaliatory rocket attacks are a continuation of years of hostilities that have occasionally boiled over into open conflict, particularly along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Given the intensity of the recent clashes, it remains to be seen whether diplomatic efforts will be able to contain the violence or if the situation will spiral further into all-out conflict.
For now, the region is on high alert, with the potential for further military operations and retaliatory strikes continuing to loom large over the affected areas.