Israel has announced that it carried out strikes targeting the intelligence headquarters of Hezbollah in Lebanon, evaluating the aftermath of these assaults after a series of actions aimed at high-ranking members of the group. Iran’s Supreme Leader condemned these operations, calling them counterproductive.
The air raid on Beirut formed part of a broader offensive that has displaced over 1.2 million people within Lebanon. Reports indicate that the attack focused on a potential successor to the Hezbollah leader, who was assassinated by Israel just a week prior.
The fate of Hashem Safieddine, the individual in question, remains uncertain, as neither Israel nor Hezbollah has issued any statements regarding his status.
A UN spokesperson characterized the impact of Israel’s actions on Lebanese civilians as “completely unacceptable.”
Many rockets launched from Israel illuminate the skies over the Dahieh area of Beirut.
In a significant show of defiance, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed a large crowd in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran and its allies in the region would not retreat. This statement came just two days after Tehran escalated tensions by sending missiles into Israel, coinciding with Israel deploying ground troops into Lebanon this week.
The Israeli military described its ground operations as “localized,” limited to villages near the border, yet it has refrained from detailing how far its forces might extend or how long these maneuvers are expected to persist.
Iran’s missile launch served partly as retaliation for Israel’s targeted killing of Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a prominent figure who played a crucial role in transforming Hezbollah into a formidable militia and political force across the region.
The UN has decried what it termed an “illegal airstrike” by Israel on a refugee camp located in the occupied West Bank, attributing the deaths of 18 individuals to this attack, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry.
According to the United Nations’ human rights office, “This strike is emblematic of an alarming trend of unlawful force employed by Israeli Security Forces during military operations in the West Bank, resulting in widespread harm to Palestinian communities and substantial destruction of infrastructure.”
The organization stated, “This incident stands as a blatant illustration of the Israeli Security Forces’ routine recourse to lethal measures in the West Bank, often unjustified and excessive, thus infringing upon the law.” It called for a thorough independent investigation into the event.
“The obliteration of a whole building filled with individuals through aerial bombardment signifies a blatant disregard for Israel’s obligations,” it emphasized.
The Israeli army acknowledged its strike on the Tulkarem refugee camp in northern West Bank, characterizing it as a collaborative operation between the Shin Bet internal security service and the air force. They claimed the airstrike led to the killing of a Hamas commander in Tulkarem, Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi.
A source within Palestinian security stated that this air raid marked the deadliest event in the West Bank since the year 2000.
Kashmiri Shia Muslims protest against Israel following the assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
In the backdrop of these events, Israel has promised retaliation, causing a spike in oil prices amid speculation about potential attacks on Iranian oil installations as Israel aims to counter Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon while dismantling its Hamas affiliates in Gaza.
“The resistance in the region will not surrender, regardless of the murder of its leaders,” said Mr. Khamenei during a rare public appearance while leading prayers in Tehran, mentioning Mr. Nasrallah in his address. He characterized Iran’s missile strike on Israel as both legal and justified.
Iran pledged not to “dawdle nor rush” in fulfilling its responsibility to counter Israel, without issuing direct threats against Israel or the US, although he dramatically clutched the barrel of a rifle at his side.
Ali Fadavi, a deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by the semi-official Iranian news outlet SNN, stating that any Israeli aggression would meet with assaults aimed at Israeli energy and gas infrastructures.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid highlighted information from three Israeli officials indicating that Mr. Safieddine, a rumored successor to Mr. Nasrallah, was targeted in an underground bunker in Beirut, though his current condition remains unknown.
Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani mentioned that officials are still evaluating the extent of the destruction from last night’s airstrikes, which were aimed at the intelligence hub of Hezbollah.
Earlier, the Israeli military confirmed the elimination of Hezbollah’s communications leader, Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, but withheld any comments regarding the reported targeting of Mr. Safieddine.
Hezbollah has not made any announcements about the whereabouts of either Mr. Sakafi or Mr. Safieddine, whose brother, Sayyed Abdallah Safieddine—Hezbollah’s representative to Iran—was seen at Khamenei’s address in Tehran. Khamenei asserted that targeted killings would only act as a catalyst for more attacks.
“Every strike against Israel by any group serves the region and all humanity,” he declared.
In the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold for Hezbollah, many structures have been left in ruins due to a week filled with relentless airstrikes. Along a bustling market street known as Moawad Souk, nearly every shop bore the scars of damage, littering the ground with shattered glass.
“We’re here, but how much longer can we endure?” reflected Nouhad Chaib, a displaced 40-year-old man who had previously fled the south.
For further reading, stay updated with the latest developments regarding the Middle East.
In recent days, Israeli assaults have increasingly targeted medical facilities and aid personnel. A strike late on Wednesday struck a central Beirut building affiliated with Hezbollah rescue workers, resulting in nine fatalities, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Another aerial assault in Beirut’s southern suburbs recently took the life of a rescuer from the same organization, while an attack on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun hit near its main hospital.
The hospital’s director, Mounes Klakesh, informed Reuters that medical staff have opted for temporary evacuation due to safety concerns.
Israel maintains that militants often hide amongst civilians, a claim that Hezbollah has strongly denied.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited Beirut today and declared that his presence amid the “turbulent circumstances” was solid proof of Iran’s unwavering support for Lebanon and Hezbollah.
He dialogued with top Lebanese officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, asserting Tehran’s backing for a ceasefire in Lebanon on the condition that Hezbollah supports it concurrently with a ceasefire in Gaza.
A Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7 took the country by surprise, acting as the catalyst for a full-scale military campaign against the group.
Iran’s allies within what it terms the “Axis of Resistance”—including Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq—have executed operations throughout the region in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Mr. Khamenei further advocated that Afghanistan should join the “defense” efforts.
U.S. President Joe Biden hinted yesterday that Israel might respond to the missile barrage from Iran—which was successfully intercepted—potentially targeting Iranian oil facilities. His remarks have contributed to rising global oil prices as traders brace for possible disruptions in supply.
Israel claims its military actions in Lebanon aim to facilitate the return of tens of thousands of its citizens, who were forced to evacuate their homes due to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
According to Lebanese authorities, nearly 2,000 lives have been lost in Israeli strikes on Lebanon over the past year, with most casualties occurring in the last two weeks alone.
United Nations officials reported that most of Lebanon’s nearly 900 shelters are now overcrowded, leaving many fleeing families to sleep in the streets or in public parks.
One of the Israeli strikes left a deep 4-meter-wide crater near Lebanon’s primary border crossing into Syria, obstructing the path for vehicles filled with those seeking to flee.
The Israeli military asserted that Hezbollah uses this crossing for smuggling weapons into Lebanon.
Lebanese officials have claimed that the crossing is essential for humanitarian reasons, with thorough checks on trucks taking place.
Footage captured individuals navigating around the crater on foot, burdened with suitcases and fuel canisters for the journey into Syria.
This week’s Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon followed two weeks of intense aerial bombardments. Hezbollah has asserted that it has successfully countered these attacks through ambushes, rocket fire, and direct confrontations.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
