The Israeli military launched a series of heavy airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting Beirut's southern suburbs in one of its most significant daytime assaults against Hezbollah-controlled areas. These strikes, particularly focused on the Dahiyeh district, aimed to dismantle the group's weapons and missile facilities, according to the Israeli military.
Tragically, the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of more than 20 individuals in central Lebanon. In northern Israel, the city of Nahariya suffered casualties when a residential building was struck, leading to two fatalities. Hezbollah responded by claiming responsibility for a drone attack targeting a military base east of Nahariya.
Residents across northern Israel were forced to seek shelter amid multiple drone attacks. One drone struck the yard of a kindergarten in a Haifa suburb, but fortunately, no injuries were reported as children were safely evacuated.
In Lebanon's Mount Lebanon province, the Lebanese health ministry reported eight deaths in Baalchmay village southeast of Beirut and 15 in Joun village in the Chouf district. Additional strikes in Tefahta, Nabatieh, Tyre, and Hermel resulted in further casualties.
The conflict, ignited by the Gaza war, has been escalating for nearly a year before Israel intensified its offensive in September. Israeli operations have targeted Hezbollah leaders, destroyed border villages, and expanded strikes across Lebanon. Since hostilities began, at least 3,287 people have been killed in Lebanon, with the majority of casualties occurring in the last seven weeks, according to Lebanese authorities.
Hezbollah has also sustained losses, with around 100 civilians and soldiers killed in northern Israel, the Golan Heights, and southern Lebanon over the past year. The group announced that it has forced Israeli retreats from several southern Lebanese towns and vowed to continue its attacks on Israeli military targets. On Tuesday alone, Hezbollah claimed to have killed more than 100 Israeli soldiers since October 1 and fired 55 projectiles into Israel.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
