Beirut airstrikes/ Lebanon conflict/ Hezbollah/ Israeli-Lebanese tensions/ UN peacekeepers/ civilian casualties/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ LEBANON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rescue crews combed through rubble in central Beirut after Israeli airstrikes leveled residential buildings, killing at least 22 and injuring dozens. As Israel escalates its campaign against Hezbollah, civilians in Lebanon face mounting losses and widespread devastation, especially in communities that have seen heavy attacks in recent weeks.
Deadly Beirut Airstrike: Quick Looks
- High Casualties: At least 22 people were killed in the airstrikes, with dozens injured.
- Target of Attack: Reports suggest the strike aimed at Hezbollah security official Wafiq Safa, who was not present.
- Mounting Tensions: Escalating strikes from both sides intensify as Israel attempts to push Hezbollah from its borders.
- Civilian Toll: Over 2,100 Lebanese, including civilians, have died from recent airstrikes, with southern Lebanon heavily impacted.
- U.N. Peacekeeper Threat: Israeli forces have fired on UNIFIL posts, prompting temporary relocation of U.N. personnel.
Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Central Beirut, Dozens Dead
Deep Look
Beirut residents faced scenes of destruction and despair on Friday morning as rescue teams sifted through the rubble following Israeli airstrikes on central Beirut. The attacks, which killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more, represent the deadliest assault on the Lebanese capital since hostilities began escalating a year ago. Entire buildings were flattened, with areas of Beirut that have become shelters for those fleeing violence elsewhere now left devastated.
The strike reportedly targeted a top Hezbollah security official, Wafiq Safa, though Lebanese media outlets indicate he was not in the area at the time. Israel has not commented on the strike, but the escalation reflects its intensified campaign against Hezbollah, which it sees as a significant threat. On the same day, Israeli forces fired on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, wounding two Indonesian U.N. soldiers and drawing condemnation from the United Nations.
In Beirut’s Burj Abi Haidar neighborhood, civil defense and municipal workers struggled to locate survivors beneath collapsed structures. Amidst the chaos, residents grappled with their losses. Ahmad al-Khatib, who lives nearby, described the horror of finding his home destroyed and his family injured. As the blast tore through their home, he struggled to free his wife and young daughter from the wreckage. His wife, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, suffered a head injury, while their young daughter survived with minor injuries.
This latest attack underscores the spiraling violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with heavy bombardments continuing on both sides. Since October 2023, Hezbollah has fired rockets deep into Israel, disrupting daily life for Israelis, although most of the rocket attacks have caused minimal casualties. However, on Friday, an anti-tank missile launched from Lebanon killed a farm worker from Thailand in northern Israel.
In response to Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks, Israel has launched an intensified campaign to push Hezbollah forces away from the border, aiming to create a safer environment for tens of thousands of Israeli citizens displaced by the conflict. Over 2,100 Lebanese people, including Hezbollah fighters, civilians, and medical workers, have been killed since the hostilities began, with most of these casualties occurring in the last few weeks. For Israel, the toll includes 29 civilian deaths and 39 soldiers lost in both northern Israel and Lebanon since the conflict escalated in late September.
In the midst of this, U.N. peacekeeping forces stationed along Lebanon’s southern border are facing increased risk. On Thursday, Israeli tank fire struck a U.N. observation post in Naqoura, Lebanon, forcing hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers to relocate from frontline positions to larger, more secure bases. U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix informed the Security Council that U.N. peacekeepers are struggling to carry out their patrol duties under constant air and ground assaults.
UNIFIL, which consists of over 10,000 peacekeepers, has been active along the Lebanon-Israel border since 1978, with an expanded mission to maintain a buffer zone after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. However, continued conflict makes the peacekeepers’ role increasingly complex, as Israeli forces accuse Hezbollah of violating the U.N. Security Council resolution that mandates the area as a demilitarized zone.
Meanwhile, escalating rhetoric and military actions add to the fears of a broader regional conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently warned that Israel’s ongoing military action against Hamas in Gaza serves as a preview of the destruction Lebanon could face unless it reins in Hezbollah’s activities. Tensions also remain high between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter, after Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel last week, retaliating for an Israeli strike that killed a Hamas leader and high-ranking members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in Lebanon.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s campaign, calling its strategy to deter Hezbollah attacks “legitimate” and necessary to allow Israeli evacuees to return home safely. However, he also noted U.S. diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
For residents of Beirut and southern Lebanon, however, these broader strategies mean little in the face of immediate losses. The continuous bombardment leaves many Lebanese citizens uncertain about where they can find safety. With neighborhoods leveled, families displaced, and resources stretched, the escalating conflict is taking a heavy toll on Lebanon, as residents dig through the ruins of their homes and communities, searching for a sense of stability amidst the destruction.
