Israel/ Hezbollah/ Beirut airstrike/ Lebanon/ rocket attacks/ Gaza war/ Hassan Nasrallah/ Newslooks/ Israel carried out a targeted airstrike on a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut after the militant group launched 140 rockets into northern Israel. This exchange marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with tensions rising since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
“Israel Strikes Beirut Suburb Quick Looks”:
- Israel hit a Beirut suburb after Hezbollah launched 140 rockets into northern Israel.
- Hezbollah targeted air defense sites and Israeli military headquarters along the border.
- Israel responded by striking Hezbollah infrastructure across southern Lebanon.
- The conflict has escalated since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
- The war in Gaza continues, with heavy casualties and widespread destruction.
Israel Strikes Beirut Suburb After Hezbollah Fires 140 Rockets
Deep Look:
On Friday, Israel launched a targeted airstrike on a Beirut suburb following a large-scale rocket attack by Hezbollah, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group. According to both Israeli military sources and Hezbollah, the strike came in response to Hezbollah firing 140 rockets into northern Israel, targeting several military sites along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Israeli military confirmed that the airstrike hit a Hezbollah-controlled area in the southern suburbs of Beirut. While specific details about the target were not immediately available, explosions were heard in the Dahiyeh neighborhood, a known Hezbollah stronghold. Al-Mayadeen TV, a Beirut-based outlet, reported that drones fired several missiles into this densely populated area. Hezbollah also confirmed that a strike took place but provided no further information on casualties or damage.
Earlier that day, Hezbollah launched 140 rockets in three separate waves, primarily targeting areas in the Golan Heights, Safed, and the Upper Galilee. The Israeli military stated that some rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, while others caused fires after falling in open areas. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from these attacks. The militant group claimed responsibility for the barrage, stating that it had hit several key Israeli air defense sites and, for the first time, struck the headquarters of an Israeli armored brigade.
Israel’s retaliation was swift. The military carried out strikes across southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. While Israeli officials provided no specific details about the extent of the damage, they emphasized that the strikes were aimed at neutralizing rocket launchers and other military installations. Hezbollah said its rocket attacks were in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on villages and homes in southern Lebanon earlier in the week. These Israeli operations were reportedly in response to the detonation of Hezbollah communication devices, including pagers and walkie-talkies, in a sophisticated attack that Hezbollah has blamed on Israel. Although Israel has not confirmed its involvement in the sabotage, at least 20 Hezbollah members were killed, and thousands of communication devices were destroyed.
This latest round of hostilities adds to the growing fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Since October 8, a day after Hamas launched its initial attack on Israel, Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire. However, Friday’s rocket barrage was one of the heaviest yet, suggesting an escalation in the conflict. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had vowed to continue retaliatory strikes despite the significant loss of communication equipment earlier in the week, describing the attack as a “severe blow” to the organization.
Meanwhile, fighting in Gaza continues, albeit at a slower pace. Overnight, Israeli airstrikes killed 15 people, including several children, in Gaza City. Palestinian authorities report that over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, with more than half of the victims being women and children. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not provided specific evidence to support this number. In addition to the staggering death toll, around 95,000 people have been wounded, and nearly 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced.
Israel maintains that its military operations target militants and accuses Hamas of endangering civilians by operating within densely populated urban areas. However, Palestinian authorities and international organizations have expressed concern about the high number of civilian casualties and the extensive destruction in Gaza. Among the latest casualties was a family of six, including an unknown number of children, killed when an airstrike leveled their home in Gaza City early Friday morning.
The broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, combined with the ongoing war in Gaza, has raised tensions across the region. Israel has reinforced its northern border with additional troops and declared the safe return of tens of thousands of displaced residents an official war objective. As both sides continue their military operations, fears are growing that the cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah could spiral into a more extensive and destructive conflict, drawing in other regional actors.
