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Israeli airstrike targets Beirut suburb
Israel conducted a rare airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday, marking only the second attack on the Lebanese capital since a ceasefire took effect last month. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the operation as "targeted" but provided no further details.
Strike hits Hezbollah stronghold
Thick plumes of smoke engulfed Dahieh, a densely populated Shia neighborhood serving as Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, following the strike at approximately 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT). Residents reported hearing explosions and rushed to check on neighbors as rescue teams arrived at the scene.
Israeli media, citing unnamed sources, claimed the target was Ali al-Husni, leader of the missile unit within the Imam Hossein Division, an Iranian-backed militia allied with Hezbollah.
Escalation follows Hezbollah drone attacks
The strike occurred after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of ground operations in response to Hezbollah drone strikes targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and civilians in northern Israel. The IDF had earlier urged residents north of the Zahrani River-about 40 km (25 miles) from the Israeli border-to evacuate, warning of intensified military action.
Casualties reported in southern Lebanon
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tyre and its eastern outskirts early Thursday, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Videos on social media showed streets engulfed in flames, with a massive fireball erupting near residential high-rises, sending debris scattering across the area.
A Hezbollah member in Tyre told the BBC that rescue efforts were suspended due to ongoing danger, including warnings from the Israeli military to evacuate the area.
Displacement crisis worsens
Wednesday's evacuation order, the largest since the ceasefire began, covered roughly 300 towns and villages-about 14% of Lebanon's territory. Many displaced residents, already uprooted from other parts of southern Lebanon, have few options for shelter.
In Saida, a coastal city north of the Zahrani River but south of Beirut, humanitarian workers and officials urged displaced individuals to continue north, as shelters had reached capacity. Despite the crisis, the city's marina bustled with beachgoers, offering a stark contrast to the devastation elsewhere.
Civilian toll and conflicting narratives
Hanaa Jamaa, 46, recounted the horror of learning her rental apartment in Saida had been struck by a missile at 02:40. Four people-two displaced individuals and two local residents-were killed in the attack. The tenant, a civilian who had lived there for three years, was among the victims.
"We aren't with Hezbollah and we aren't with Israel. We just want peace," Jamaa said, her voice breaking.
Ceasefire under strain
Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of violating the temporary ceasefire, which has been extended twice since its implementation. Israeli officials claim Hezbollah's attacks breach the agreement, while Lebanese authorities point to Israeli strikes as the primary violations.
The escalation risks undermining broader negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran. Tehran insists any deal must include Lebanon, while Israel asserts its right to counter Hezbollah's threats.
Human cost of the conflict
Since the war began on March 2, when Hezbollah retaliated for an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader, Lebanon has reported 3,224 deaths, though its health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel has confirmed 23 soldier fatalities and four civilian deaths on both sides of the border.
