Beirut, Lebanon - In a somber turn of events, Israel conducted airstrikes on the heart of Beirut early Thursday morning, resulting in the tragic loss of at least six lives and the injury of eight others, as reported by Lebanon's officials.
This latest escalation of violence follows a series of missile strikes by Iran on Israel, in response to the killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
In a statement today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed that their forces, supported by air power, have successfully neutralized terrorist threats and dismantled their infrastructure through targeted strikes in various areas of southern Lebanon.
A significant target of these operations was a multi-story building in the Bachoura locality, which housed a health center affiliated with Hezbollah. The Israeli military described the attack as "precision."
This marks the first Israeli military action in the central area of Beirut, mere meters from the Lebanese parliament. The operation continued into the night, with five additional air strikes targeting the southern suburb of Dahiyeh in Beirut.
The IDF has reported that eight of its soldiers have been killed in combat in southern Lebanon, marking the first fatalities since the commencement of ground operations against Hezbollah.
Earlier, the IDF announced the reinforcement of its forces, aiming to dismantle what it referred to as "terrorist infrastructure" in Lebanese border villages.
The IDF has also issued warnings to the local populations near the Lebanese border, indicating its focus on Hezbollah's infrastructure within the city.
These recent military actions are part of 'Operation Northern Arrow,' a comprehensive military strategy by Israel, which involves ground forces, air support, and Israeli artillery.
Lebanon's health ministry has reported a total of 46 fatalities and 85 injuries from Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours.
Israel has declared its readiness to retaliate following nearly a year of cross-border conflicts, initiated by the war in Gaza, with a stated objective of ensuring the safe return of residents displaced by Hezbollah's attacks.
Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political, military, and social organization, wields significant influence in Lebanon. It is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including Israel, the US, the UK, and others.
In response to Israel's actions, Iran launched a retaliatory ballistic missile attack on October 1, targeting three military bases in the Tel Aviv area. Israeli military reports indicate that the majority of the missiles were intercepted, with Iran claiming the attack on Israeli military installations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately issued a statement vowing retaliation, stating, "Iran has made a grave mistake and will face consequences." The US has expressed its full support for Israel, with President Joe Biden stating, "Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel." He also mentioned discussions on a potential response to the Iranian attacks.
