A health authority building in the Bachoura neighborhood was reportedly among the targeted sites. Photo: Courtesy
By The Respondent agencies
The ongoing conflict in Lebanon has taken a deadly turn, with six casualties reported in Beirut following a series of Israeli airstrikes late last night. The strikes occurred shortly after Israel announced “a precise strike” in the region, resulting in three massive explosions that shook the capital around midnight local time. A health authority building in the Bachoura neighborhood was reportedly among the targeted sites, leaving at least seven others injured.
The intensity of the violence escalated as Israeli and Hezbollah troops engaged in close-range combat in southern Lebanon. Israel has confirmed that eight of its soldiers have been killed in just the first day and a half of fighting, a notable increase compared to its daily casualties in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Adding to the tensions, Israeli officials have yet to decide how to respond to Iran's recent missile attack, with speculation mounting that any action might be delayed until after Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. U.S. President Joe Biden stated he would not endorse an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites, emphasizing the need for a proportional response.
In a notable diplomatic development, Israel has criticized United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, asserting he has no right to visit Jerusalem following his failure to condemn the recent attacks. Israeli officials expressed their disappointment, arguing that Guterres's silence undermines the UN's credibility and its role in addressing the escalating violence in the region.
In a tour organized by Hezbollah, media outlets including The Times were shown the impact of airstrikes in the southern Beirut suburbs, where the militant group remains the dominant power. The Dahiya neighborhoods are now largely deserted, with residents fleeing and businesses shuttered as the conflict intensifies. The situation continues to evolve, drawing international concern over the potential for a wider regional conflict.