Israel Launches Fresh Attacks on Beirut in Lebanon

Israel has launched another series of attacks on Beirut and Lebanon, a day after it carried out a massive strike on a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital in an apparent attempt to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a key ally of Iran.

Reuters witnesses heard more than 20 airstrikes before dawn on Saturday, as the Israeli military continued its assault on the city. The attacks were concentrated in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a strong presence.

Thousands of Lebanese civilians were forced to flee their homes in the southern suburbs, congregating in squares, parks, and sidewalks in downtown Beirut and seaside areas. The streets were filled with people, many of whom were carrying suitcases and bags, as they sought to escape the violence.

The unprecedented five hours of continuous strikes early on Saturday followed Friday’s attack, which was by far the most powerful by Israel on Beirut during nearly a year of war with Hezbollah. Several whole apartment blocks were levelled in the attack, which was widely condemned by international leaders.

The targeting of Nasrallah – even if he was not harmed – would mark a staggering escalation on the Israeli side. He represents Iran’s most important regional asset and has long been seen as the linchpin in the so-called axis of resistance. The presence of Hezbollah’s large rocket arsenal on Israel’s northern border has long acted as a deterrent to an Israeli attack on Iran and its nuclear program.

The latest escalation has sharply increased fears that the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially drawing in Iran, Hezbollah’s principal backer, as well as the US, Israel’s main ally.

“This is a very dangerous situation,” said Dr. Ahmad Tibi, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset. “The Israeli government is playing with fire, and it’s not clear what the consequences will be. We need to find a way to stop the fighting and negotiate a peaceful resolution.”

The international community has been calling for calm and restraint, with the United Nations and other organizations urging both sides to avoid further escalation.

“We are deeply concerned about the situation,” said a UN spokesperson. “We urge both sides to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions that could lead to further escalation.”

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing for years, with periods of relative calm punctuated by outbreaks of violence. However, the current escalation is seen as particularly significant, given the scale of the attacks and the number of civilians caught in the crossfire.

“This is a very volatile situation,” said Dr. Hassan Nasrallah, a Lebanese analyst. “The Israeli government is trying to provoke a reaction from Hezbollah, but it’s not clear what the consequences will be. We need to find a way to stop the fighting and negotiate a peaceful resolution.”

The international community has been reacting to the conflict, with many countries calling for calm and restraint.

Hezbollah’s Response

Hezbollah has vowed to respond to the Israeli attacks, and has warned of further escalation.

“We will not be intimidated by the Israeli aggression,” said a Hezbollah spokesperson. “We will continue to defend our country and our people, and we will respond to any attacks with force.”

The Israeli military has been on high alert in recent days, with troops and equipment being deployed to the border with Lebanon.

“We are prepared for any scenario,” said an Israeli military spokesperson. “We will not tolerate any attacks on our territory or our citizens. We will respond with force to any aggression.”

As the conflict continues, there are fears that it could spread to other parts of the region. The Israeli military has been conducting operations in Gaza, and there have been reports of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.