Lebanon’s health ministry reported that an Israeli offensive in central Beirut left 18 dead and at least 92 injured on Thursday night. According to a Lebanese security official, a high-ranking Hizbullah member was the main target of these attacks.
Smoke rose heavily over Beirut, with observers claiming that a gas station located in a densely populated area of apartments and shops was among the spots hit. Rescue teams worked throughout the night, combing through the debris for survivors, showcased in footage aired on Hizbullah-owned Al-Manar TV.
The identity of the Hizbullah member targeted remained unclear. The affected area had not faced an Israeli strike previously and sits a fair distance away from Hezbollah’s operations base in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area that has suffered frequent Israeli bombings.
Israel has yet to comment on the incident. However, it released a new evacuation directive on Thursday for Beirut’s southern suburbs, listing specific buildings. Earlier in the day, Israel advised Lebanese civilians against returning to their homes in the south as a safety precaution.
A United Nations source revealed that two Unifil peacekeepers suffered injuries when an Israeli tank targeted a watchtower at the Unifil head office in Ras al-Naqoura. The attack on the tower led to the peacekeepers falling. There were no casualties reported in two separate incidents.
Labeling any calculated assault on peacekeepers as a flagrant disregard of international humanitarian law, Unifil announced that it was in discussion with the Israeli military, per a statement.
Concerned deeply by the reports of Israeli forces attacking UN positions, the White House stated that it was inquiring Israel for more information.
In a statement, the Israeli Military confirmed its soldiers were active in the Naqoura region, located near a Unifil base. As a precautionary measure, the IDF advised the UN forces in the area to stay within protected locations before opening fire. They also stated that regular contact was maintained with Unifil.
Hizbullah has confirmed it launched a missile attack on Israeli forces during a rescue operation in the Ras al-Naqoura locality, which resulted in direct hits. This information comes amid increasing tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel’s representative to the UN, Danny Danon, speaking from New York, emphasised that Israel’s primary objective is contending with Hizbullah. With the conflict escalating, he suggested that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) move 5 kilometres further north to ensure their safety following a communication from the Israeli military to the UN peacekeepers, as reported by Reuters earlier this week.
Mr Danon also specified that while Israel has no plans for a long-term presence in Lebanon, they won’t shy away from what’s necessary to prevent Hizbullah from encroaching on its northern frontier, so that the 70,000 displaced individuals can return home in north Israel.
The conflict originated a year ago when Hizbullah, in support of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, launched an attack at the inception of the Gaza war. In recent weeks, the situation has significantly escalated with Israel bombing the southern suburbs of Beirut, the south and the Bekaa Valley, and deploying ground troops.
As tensions mount, the Middle East remains on high alert, anticipating Israel’s response to a missile strike by Iran made on October 1st.
Simultaneously, three Gulf sources disclosed to Reuters that Gulf nations are making an appeal to Washington to prevent a potential attack by Israel on Iran’s oil infrastructure, due to fears that their own oil facilities could be targeted by Tehran’s allies if hostilities continue to build.
Following a year of Israeli strikes, Lebanon’s daily government update revealed that the death toll in Lebanon has reached 2,169. The majority of these casualties have occurred since September 27th, following an expansion of Israel’s military initiative. The figures released do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
According to Israeli sources, attacks from Hizbullah across the border have resulted in 53 Israeli deaths over the same timeframe, the majority of these victims being civilians. – Reuters.