A powerful explosion rocked the southern suburbs of Beirut and thick smoke rose from the area, which is considered a stronghold of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization, eyewitnesses told Reuters.
The Israeli military announced that it carried out a strike in Beirut in retaliation for the attack on the Golan Heights, where 12 children were killed. It was a “targeted strike” against a high-ranking Hezbollah official, specifically the commander responsible for the attack on the Golan.
Major Israeli airstrike destroys large parts of a building in Beirut, Lebanon.
Looks like they went after a high-value target. pic.twitter.com/T0qxsCoVPL
— Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) July 30, 2024
Lebanon’s national news agency reported that the Israeli strike targeted the area where Hezbollah’s Shura Council (equivalent to the political bureau) is based, in the Haret Harit neighborhood.
The city has been on high alert for the past few days, awaiting Israeli retaliation for the strike on the occupied Golan Heights. Israel and the US blame this attack on Hezbollah, which however denies any responsibility.
REUTERS/Ahmed Al-Kerdi
A dead woman – The commander’s fate is unknown
A woman was killed and seven others wounded in the Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanese state media and a source close to the security services later said.
Another source, close to Hezbollah, spoke of at least two dead.
According to three senior security officials, the target was Muhsin Shukr, also known as Fouad Shukr, the head of Hezbollah’s operational arm. The US had imposed sanctions on Fouad Soukr since 2015.
Two sources told Reuters he was alive, while others said he was seriously injured.
The Middle East is a dustbin
Today’s incident comes, therefore, after the promise made yesterday (29/7) by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, that a “tough response” would be given after the bombing that claimed the lives of 12 young people in this city, in annexed Golan Heights.
“These children are our children. The State of Israel will not, and cannot, let this pass. Our response will come and it will be harsh,” Netanyahu said. According to the Israeli military, the missile was launched from Lebanon by the Islamist group Hezbollah, which however denies any involvement in the strike.
Countries are on alert
There are many countries that recommend their citizens to leave Lebanon. Britain advised its citizens to leave Lebanon yesterday as efforts to prevent an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah following the deadly attack on the occupied Golan are intensified.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement regarding the avoidance of visits to Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iran.
“We are reminded of the relevant announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with which it is recommended to avoid visits to Lebanon, except for those that are absolutely necessary, as well as the departure of visitors from the country,” reads the latest announcement. Germany did the same, calling on its citizens to leave the country. It should be noted that flights to and from Beirut have been suspended. Air France and its subsidiary, Transavia France, suspended their flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Beirut yesterday and today.
The airlines Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings, of the German Lufthansa group, are also suspending their flights to and from the capital of Lebanon until August 5 due to the developments in the Middle East, as announced by a representative of the group.
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