Two waves of Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday, marking rare attacks within the capital as Israel's military continues its offensive against Hezbollah in surrounding areas. This escalation appears to be part of a strategy to compel the Lebanese government and Hezbollah to agree to cease-fire terms negotiated by Israeli and American officials.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported at least six fatalities due to the strikes, which have heightened fears among residents about the potential for the city to be engulfed in the ongoing conflict. The strikes in Beirut are infrequent and typically aim at individuals associated with Hezbollah.
The first attack on Sunday resulted in the death of Mohammed Afif, the head of Hezbollah’s media office, who was reportedly present during the strike. His public profile had risen recently following the death of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September.
Later in the evening, another strike occurred in the Mar Elias area, killing at least two and injuring 22 others. This attack caused a significant fire, sending smoke into the neighborhood.
The earlier strike destroyed a seven-story building in the Ras al-Naba area, which housed the Lebanese headquarters of the Arab Socialist Baath party, a faction aligned with Hezbollah. Search teams were deployed to rescue individuals trapped under the debris, and the Health Ministry confirmed four fatalities from this incident.
The party's leader, Ali Hijazi, confirmed Mr. Afif's death on social media, expressing condolences for the loss. The explosions triggered panic in the city, with residents fleeing their homes amid chaos.
Witnesses described the scene of confusion, with people rushing into the streets and emergency services responding rapidly. One resident, Um Ahmad, recounted the fear experienced by her family upon hearing the blasts.
There was no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding the strikes in Beirut. Earlier, the military had conducted operations in the Dahiya area, claiming to have targeted 50 Hezbollah positions over the past week.
Reports indicate that Israel's intensified military campaign against Hezbollah began in September, following the group's rocket attacks into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. This offensive has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, displacing a significant portion of the population and straining the health system.
According to the Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have resulted in 29 deaths on Saturday alone, bringing the total death toll since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023 to over 3,480, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
The Israeli military's operations have expanded beyond southern Lebanon, targeting urban areas across the country, while Hezbollah continues to launch rockets into Israel. On Sunday, approximately 35 rockets were fired from Lebanon, prompting alerts in northern Israel, with some intercepted by air defenses.