Israeli airstrike targets senior Hezbollah official in Beirut
Israeli airstrike in Beirut kills nine, targets Hezbollah leader's successor
An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Thursday reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, widely considered the successor to the slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Two Israeli sources confirmed the target through a report by Barak Ravid. The Israeli Defence Forces have not commented on the strike.
Israel’s military mentioned hitting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut. At the same time, troops clashed with militants near the border, and warplanes attacked their strongholds across the country.
A source close to Hezbollah disclosed that Israel had carried out 11 consecutive strikes on the group’s stronghold in south Beirut late Thursday. An airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut resulted in nine deaths, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Since late September, Israel has targeted areas with a significant Hezbollah presence but rarely struck central Beirut.
❗️🇮🇱⚔️🇱🇧 – Other angles of attack.
Israeli airstrikes tonight targeted a deep-underground bunker in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The bunker is believed to have housed Hezbollah's new Secretary-General, Hashem Safieddine, his family, and other senior Hezbollah officials. pic.twitter.com/jGo66lyUYk
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 3, 2024
US President Joe Biden expressed confidence that an all-out war in the Middle East could be avoided, though he acknowledged that much work remained. Biden’s comments came amid discussions of possible US strikes on Iran’s oil facilities in response to Tehran’s missile attack on Israel, causing a 5% rally in oil prices. Oil prices rose during early Asian trading on Friday, with benchmarks on track for weekly gains of about 8%.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was expected to address Iran’s stance in a sermon in Tehran on Friday, marking his first such address in nearly five years.
The UN Security Council voiced full support for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel banned him from entering the country. The council highlighted that disengagement with the UN chief is counterproductive, particularly amid escalating Middle East tensions.
The Israeli military confirmed the death of senior Hezbollah militant Mohammed Anisi, involved in developing precision-guided missiles, in a recent airstrike on Hezbollah’s intelligence branch in Beirut.
The US State Department reported that around 250 Americans and their immediate families had left Lebanon over the past two days on government-organized flights.
Lebanon’s crisis response unit indicated that nearly 1.2 million people have been displaced due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This includes over 250,000 Syrian citizens and 82,000 Lebanese citizens who crossed into Syria between September 23 and September 30. Approximately 164,000 displaced individuals are residing in group shelters in Lebanon.
An Israeli strike on the Tulkarm refugee camp in the occupied West Bank killed at least 18 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military stated that the air force killed Hamas commander Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi in the strike.
The G-7 expressed deep concern about the situation in Lebanon and called for a cessation of hostilities, though it did not demand an immediate ceasefire as it did in Gaza. Efforts by the US and its G-7 and Arab allies to broker a truce in Lebanon before Israel killed Nasrallah were unsuccessful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was targeted in the Israeli airstrike in Beirut?
Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine.
What did the Israeli military say about the airstrike?
It targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut.
How many people were killed in the Beirut airstrike?
Nine people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
What is the UN Security Council’s stance on Israel’s ban of the UN chief?
The council affirmed full support for the UN Secretary-General and called the ban counterproductive.
How many people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the conflict?
Nearly 1.2 million people, including over 250,000 Syrian citizens.
