Israeli jets conducted airstrikes on Thursday targeting sites in the Dahiya area, a densely populated region outside Beirut, following the announcement of the deaths of six Israeli soldiers in combat in southern Lebanon.
The recent strikes are part of a prolonged aerial campaign that has targeted more than two dozen locations associated with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia operating in the area. The exact number of casualties from the latest bombings remains unclear.
According to Lebanese state news media, the strikes were primarily focused on two neighborhoods within the Dahiya, which has frequently faced military action from Israel since the escalation of hostilities in late September.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli military spokesman issued evacuation warnings for residents in four neighborhoods, advising them to maintain a distance of 500 meters from specific buildings targeted for future operations.
The Israeli military did not disclose details regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the six soldiers, marking one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces since their incursion into southern Lebanon last month. This incident underscores Hezbollah's ongoing capability to inflict casualties, despite significant Israeli military advancements, including the assassination of key leaders and a high number of fighter casualties.
Israel's military confirmed that over the past week, it has eliminated many Hezbollah fighters and destroyed greater than 140 rocket launchers in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the military intercepted several drones launched from Iraq, which aimed at northern Israel, with no reported damage from the attacks.
In parallel, Israel has intensified its operations in northern Gaza, describing the area as a site of Hamas resurgence. The military's recent ground raids and airstrikes have reportedly targeted Hamas fighters and contributed to a significant civilian toll.
International concern has mounted regarding the humanitarian impact of Israel's offensive in northern Gaza, where several hundred thousand civilians are stranded. Human Rights Watch recently issued a report accusing Israel of committing war crimes by forcibly displacing nearly all of Gaza's 2.2 million inhabitants, calling into question the military's justifications for its actions.
The report stated that there is "no plausible imperative military reason" to justify the extensive displacement of the civilian population and emphasized that evacuation orders have resulted in significant harm to residents.