Lebanese authorities reported at least three killed and over a dozen wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Friday, as AP reported.
The airstrike targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs after Hezbollah launched 140 rockets at northern Israel, following its vow of retaliation.
Hezbollah’s attack came in response to a mass attack on their communication devices earlier in the week leading to device detonations which are widely speculated to have been initiated by Israel.
Israel confirmed the airstrike as a “targeted strike,” though the specific target remains unclear, amid escalating tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border. However, Israel has yet to comment on the device detonations.
The Lebanese Health Ministry didn’t release further information on the victims, while rescue operations continued. Lebanese media aired footage of wounded individuals being pulled from the rubble, with ambulances rushing to the scene.
This exchange of fire is part of near-daily clashes between Hezbollah and Israel since the Israel-Hamas war came to fruition on October 7.
Tensions heightened as Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, promised continued strikes, condemning recent sabotage against the group.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported intercepting several missiles aimed at the Golan Heights and other areas of northern Israel.
Despite heavy fighting, Israel stated that no significant damage or casualties were reported from Hezbollah’s rocket fire on Friday.
The situation has raised fears of further escalation, as Hezbollah’s attacks have intensified since the sabotage of its communication devices. The Israeli military continued its operations in southern Lebanon, targeting rocket launchers believed to be prepared for further strikes.
In Gaza, the conflict rages on, with Palestinian authorities reporting continued casualties from Israeli airstrikes on the densely populated strip. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with over 41,000 Palestinians killed and 95,000 wounded since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel claims that a significant portion of those killed are Hamas members, while the war has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population.