In the early hours of Saturday, the Israeli military launched intense airstrikes on various locations in the southern suburbs of Beirut. According to Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, the strikes targeted areas including Kafaat, Hadath, Lailaki, Shweifat, and Burj al-Barajneh.
Videos from the scene revealed massive fires and thick columns of smoke billowing from the bombarded areas.
At the outset of the latest attack, the Israeli military announced that it was “currently striking buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah stores anti-ship missiles.”
The military statement added that they were “conducting precise strikes on Hezbollah weaponry stored beneath civilian buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut.”
Prior to the strike, the Israeli army had urged residents in the Lailaki and Hadath neighborhoods of the southern suburbs to evacuate, citing their proximity to Hezbollah assets.
IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X (formerly Twitter), addressing residents of specific buildings in Lailaki and Hadath: “You are located near Hezbollah assets. For your safety and the safety of your loved ones, you must evacuate the buildings immediately and move at least 500 meters away.” He also shared a map indicating the targeted buildings.
The airstrikes come on the heels of a heavy Israeli assault on Friday, which targeted a central Hezbollah headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least six people were killed and 91 injured in Friday’s attack, although these figures are not yet final.
The Friday strike has also sparked speculation about the fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with some reports suggesting he may have been killed.
