Israel’s military said today that its forces had launched a “targeted strike” in Beirut, with two security sources telling Reuters that an Israeli airstrike had targeted a senior Hezbollah official.
Lebanese media speak of dead and wounded from the bombing, with the Ministry of Health confirming – so far – three dead and 17 injured.
The target of the Israeli attack was Ibrahim Aqilhead of Hezbollah’s special operations unit, who was killed.
Aqil was wanted by the US for a deadly attack on the US embassy in Beirut in April 1983. Authorities had announced a reward of 7 million euros for information leading to his location.
“The Israeli military carried out a targeted strike in Beirut,” the military announced, without specifying the nature of the strike or the means used.
Local TV network Al-Jadeed broadcast images of damaged cars, debris on the streets after the Israeli raid.
Reports so far of at least 16 Deaths, as a result of the Israeli Precision-Airstrike on the Suburbs of Beirut.#Beirut #LebanonExplosion #LebanonBlast #lebnan pic.twitter.com/WCHSSYrjnt
— THE GLOBAL INDEPENDENT NEWS (@shivams53345792) September 20, 2024
Live television footage from Reuters showed a thick cloud of smoke was seen rising over the Lebanese capital, while residents in the city’s southern suburbs reported hearing a loud explosion.
According to the latest information, two apartment buildings collapsed.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing following the Israeli attack in #Beirut. pic.twitter.com/lJXazfxdvA
— NewsPoint (@HaberNoktam) September 20, 2024
Lebanese security sources told Reuters the bombing occurred near a Hezbollah facility.
The strike came hours after Hezbollah fired 150 rockets.
The Iranian-backed movement claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes in response to intense nighttime bombing by Israel in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers.
Netanyahu postpones his trip to New York
Due to the developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is postponing by one day his departure for New York, which was originally scheduled for September 24.
This postponement is due to the security situation in northern Israel, an official from the Israeli prime minister’s office told AFP today.
Netanyahu “postponed his visit to the US by one day due to the security situation in northern Israel,” where the army faces repeated rocket attacks from Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the official said.
“Currently, the Prime Minister is expected to depart Israel on Wednesday September 25 instead of Tuesday September 24,” he added.
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