An airstrike conducted by Israel has tragically resulted in the deaths of five individuals in central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. This marks the second consecutive day that Israel has targeted locations in the capital, ramping up its offensive against Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran.
In the Zaouk al-Blat neighborhood, dense with population, towering smoke was observed rising from the site of the strike. The attack occurred not far from the core of central Beirut, where the Lebanese government has its nerve center. Lebanese authorities reported that two individuals are still unaccounted for, while 31 others sustained injuries during the incident.
Over the past week, Israel has significantly intensified its aerial bombardments in and around Beirut. Concurrently, Hezbollah has persisted in launching missile strikes into Israeli territory, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the United States to bring an end to the hostilities.
In a seemingly coordinated effort, Lebanon and Hezbollah appear receptive to a ceasefire proposal put forth by the U.S. A senior Lebanese official noted that this proposal marks one of the most serious attempts to halt the ongoing violence.
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is anticipated to visit Beirut soon, as reported by a source familiar with the situation.
Since late September, Israel has delivered significant blows to Hezbollah; they killed the group’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and have been relentless in their airstrikes across extensive regions of Lebanon, even mobilizing troops into the southern parts of the country.
This evening, air raid sirens blared throughout Tel Aviv and much of central Israel.
Falling debris from an intercepted missile reportedly struck a main thoroughfare in a suburb of Tel Aviv, as confirmed by the Israeli military, which continues to investigate the incident. That explosion resulted in injuries to six people, one of whom is a 54-year-old woman in serious condition, according to Israel’s ambulance service.
In response, Hezbollah stated it had launched a volley of drone strikes targeting “critical military sites” in Tel Aviv.
Earlier today, tragedy struck when an Israeli woman lost her life due to a rocket striking a building in Shfaram, a town situated in northern Israel. The Israeli military stated that approximately five projectiles were launched from Lebanon during this latest escalation.
Since the initiation of Israel’s offensive strategy in September, airstrikes in the Beirut area have primarily aimed at Hezbollah strongholds located in the southern suburbs. However, yesterday’s attacks marked a notable shift as Israel targeted areas within Beirut city limits for the first time in over five weeks, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals in two distinct strikes, including the highest-ranking media official of Hezbollah.
This latest offensive by Israel follows almost a year of escalating cross-border tensions with Hezbollah. The stated objective of this military campaign is to dismantle Hezbollah’s operational capabilities while facilitating the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis who were forced to evacuate the northern regions.
In light of the ongoing conflict, Hezbollah has been responding with missile strikes aimed at Israel, aligning with its ally, Hamas, since the outbreak of the Gaza war over a year ago. Israel’s military actions have prompted the displacement of over one million people in Lebanon throughout the last eight weeks alone.
Global leaders have emphasized that any prospects for a ceasefire should align with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This resolution stipulates that Hezbollah must relocate its arms and fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border.
As fires break out in a building following the latest Israeli airstrike in Beirut, the dialogue surrounding a potential truce continues.
Hochstein, who has unsuccessfully facilitated multiple rounds of ceasefire discussions over the past year, expressed renewed hope this past week that a resolution might be achieved.
Ali Hassan Khalil, a close advisor to Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, announced that Lebanon has submitted its formal written response to the U.S. ambassador in Lebanon today.
Hezbollah, an armed faction with strong support from Iran, has backed Berri in his negotiation efforts concerning the ceasefire.
“Our comments reflect a precise commitment to UN Resolution 1701 and all its stipulations,” Khalil stated. He further noted that the success of this diplomatic initiative now hinges on Israel’s willingness to cooperate. “If Israel is uninterested in a solution, it could create countless obstacles,” he remarked.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from Israel regarding Lebanon’s assessment of the current diplomatic negotiations.
Berri earlier mentioned perceiving a promising atmosphere surrounding the ongoing discussions, though he urged caution not to celebrate prematurely, according to Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram, who spoke after meeting with Berri.
Since the outbreak of the current hostilities, Israeli strikes have tragically claimed the lives of 3,481 individuals in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese authorities. Notably, these figures do not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. Similarly, Hezbollah’s attacks have resulted in the deaths of 43 civilians in northern Israel and the Golan Heights, while 73 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives due to various combat engagements along the northern borders.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
