From late Saturday to Sunday, heavy sustained bombing battered the southern enclaves of Beirut. Moreover, 24 individuals were reported to have perished in a central Gaza mosque due to an Israeli aerial assault early on Sunday, according to the region’s civil defence agency. As per Lebanon’s National news agency, Israeli opposing fighter jets executed four intense bombings on the southern district of Beirut, as well as a single strike on the Chweifat vicinity, prompting an immediate response from ambulance crews.
Beirut-based correspondents conveyed reports of audible blasts, and visual evidence from the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency depicted fumes of smoke billowing from the stricken regions. Simultaneously, bombing on a Gaza school and mosque resulted in a reported 24 fatalities. Eye witnesses and local hospital authorities reported to news outlets that the mosque was utilised to shelter displaced persons. However, the Israeli armed forces maintained that it was functioning as a central control point for Hamas.
This attack on the mosque, situated close to the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, occurred as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territories approaches its first anniversary in October. The north of the strip in Israel has been subjected to fresh evacuation directives for Palestinians. Early on Sunday, it was announced that two north Gaza emergency exit routes were opened once again to grant citizens access into the southern “humanitarian zone”: one via Salah al-Din road and the other along the Al-Rashid coastal road.
In line with the recent bombardment of Lebanon, Israel continued bombing Beirut suburbs known for being Hizbullah strongholds, an Iranian-backed armed force, eventually causing the death of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and possibly his potential successor. A Lebanese security insider divulged on Saturday that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s potential successor, had not been seen since Friday following an Israeli airstrikes close to the city’s international airport reported to have targeted him. An Israeli army spokesperson countered on Saturday, stating that Israel would counterattack Iran based on their recent missile attack at a time of their choosing.
Iran has warned that it would respond with a more potent counterattack if there was any assault from Israel, indicating intensifying hostility between the two nations.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, harshly criticised President Emmanuel Macron of France, branding him “a disgrace” following his plea for a cessation of arms supply to Israel.
“The terrorist coalition stands united. Yet nations that purportedly resist this [coalition] advocate for an arms blockade on Israel. Such a disgrace,” with these words Mr Netanyahu voiced his scorn. He further added, “Let me clarify, Israel will triumph, irrespective of their backing, but their shame will persist long after the conflict isresolved.”
Responding to Mr Netanyahu’s remarks, the office of Mr Macron later on Saturday issued a statement calling his response “overblown and unreflective of the amicable ties between France and Israel”. It reaffirmed that France remains a “reliable ally of Israel”. – Guardian.