Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut on Wednesday night, marking a month since the start of the Iran-Hezbollah conflict. Lebanese state media reported that at least 17 Israeli raids targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, with six buildings reduced to rubble in one of the most intense nights of bombardment since the war began on 23 September. The attacks focused on Laylaki, where a residential complex was hit by four strikes, igniting a large fire. Video footage showed massive explosions followed by secondary blasts. No prior warning was given for the strike on Beirut’s Jnah neighborhood, which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to five others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Meanwhile, Syria’s state media reported Israeli airstrikes on a residential building in Damascus and a military site in Homs. One soldier was killed and seven others wounded in the attacks. The strikes came shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, where he urged the country to avoid escalating tensions with Iran further. Israel is currently engaged in a war against Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and has vowed retaliation against Iran for a missile attack on 1 October.
In Lebanon, the National News Agency described the strikes in Beirut as the most violent since the conflict began, with widespread destruction in southern suburbs. In Tyre, Israeli airstrikes devastated large portions of the city, causing an exodus of residents. Seven buildings were leveled, and more than 400 apartments were damaged. “The whole city shook,” said a local resident, while black smoke was seen rising from several areas close to Tyre’s ancient ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The organization stated that it was monitoring the impact of the conflict on the historical site.
The escalating conflict in Gaza has killed over 42,000 people, mostly civilians, according to figures from Hamas-run health authorities, with the UN considering these numbers reliable. Blinken, in his meetings with Israeli officials, acknowledged that Israel had achieved most of its strategic objectives in Gaza but emphasized the importance of preventing further escalation, particularly with Iran and Hezbollah.
As winter approaches, concerns are growing for civilians displaced by the fighting, particularly in Gaza’s aid-starved northern regions, where Israel has launched a major ground and air offensive. Displaced Gazans are facing harsh conditions, with many lacking basic necessities like blankets and warm clothing.
