Israel Launches Airstrikes on Hezbollah Targets in Beirut, Causing Civilian Casualties

Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah facilities and causing significant civilian casualties. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they struck a Hezbollah naval base in Beirut, which included a training center, an area for military experiments, and military speedboats intended for attacks on Israeli navy vessels.

The airstrikes also hit Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, command centers, and other terrorist targets in the area, some of which were located underground. Despite efforts to mitigate civilian harm by issuing advanced warnings, the strikes resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including four children, near the Rafik Hariri Hospital in southern Beirut. The hospital itself was hit by shrapnel but remains operational.

Survivors described the devastating impact of the airstrikes, with one resident, Mohammed Sukayneh, recounting how his home was demolished and his nephew critically injured. “We couldn’t comprehend what was happening,” he said. “After the explosion, we heard a series of booms. Everything fell on us—rocks, metal, blood, and flesh. It was suffocating; we couldn’t speak or breathe”.

The IDF also targeted bank branches throughout Lebanon to disrupt Hezbollah’s financial resources, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of residents in Beirut and its suburbs. Additionally, the Al Sahel private hospital was evacuated after Israel claimed it was built over a Hezbollah bunker, although hospital officials found no evidence to support this claim.

The situation has heightened tensions in the region, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that Tehran‘s neighbors would not allow their territory to be used for an assault on Iran and that Iran would strike back if attacked. The United States has expressed concern over the escalating conflict, with President Biden noting his “deep concern” regarding the situation.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the escalating conflict, highlighting international efforts to address the crisis.