The Ministry of Health in Lebanon has reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern city of Tyre, resulting in the deaths of a minimum of five people and injuries to ten others.
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In an official statement, the ministry mentioned that “this morning’s attack by the Israeli enemy on a building located in the city’s center resulted in a preliminary count of five fatalities and ten injuries.”
The statement further indicated that “efforts are underway to clear the debris from the site.”
Footage captured by an AFP journalist showed emergency responders hastily transporting a survivor on a stretcher to an ambulance, while other rescue teams battled a significant blaze at the scene where a residential structure had crumbled.
Aftermath of Attacks on Sayda in Lebanon
Israel has intensified its air campaign against Hezbollah, including the mobilization of ground troops in Lebanon, particularly after a challenging year marked by ongoing skirmishes with the Iran-supported group amid the conflict in Gaza.
In the midst of this turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed that Israel’s airstrikes had dealt a severe blow to Iran’s defenses and missile manufacturing capacity. This statement coincided with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei noting that the nation was contemplating its response to these developments.
With the fighting continuing in both Gaza and Lebanon, there are heightened concerns that direct hostilities between Israel and Iran could spiral into a broader regional conflict. Yet, in the wake of the recent airstrikes, no immediate signs appeared indicating a potential escalation.
Nevertheless, fierce clashes are still unfolding in Lebanon, particularly between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Over recent weeks, tensions have surged, exemplified by an Israeli airstrike in Sidon that tragically claimed eight lives in a residential building, according to medical sources.
Expressing confidence, Netanyahu asserted, “Our air force targeted operations across Iran, striking hard at its defense infrastructure and its missile production capabilities directed at us.” He characterized the operation as “precise and powerful,” claiming it achieved all its strategic aims.
Israeli army chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, articulated that the striking of Iranian targets sent a strong message regarding Israel’s approach to threats from its adversaries. He stated, “We targeted critical systems within Iran that hold significant value, and we will closely monitor subsequent developments.”
“Whatever happens next, we are ready for all scenarios in every front,” Halevi added, underscoring Israel’s commitment to readiness.
Iran, meanwhile, has yet to clarify its intended course of action in response to the strikes over the weekend, which involved a significant coalition of fighter jets bombing locations in close proximity to Tehran and the western provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan.
According to diplomats, the United Nations Security Council is anticipated to meet to deliberate regarding these attacks.
The ongoing strife has given rise to a cycle of retaliatory attacks between Israel and Iran-backed factions. This latest offensive follows an Iranian missile barrage on October 1, with Israeli air defense systems reportedly intercepting many of the missiles.
Khamenei declared that Israel must “have its calculations thrown into disarray.” He urged that the recent assault on Iran, which resulted in the loss of four soldiers and inflicted some structural damage, “should neither be trivialized nor blown out of proportion.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran expressed that the nation does not seek conflict but is prepared to deliver a fitting response if necessary.
US President Joe Biden has intervened, calling for an end to the escalating tensions, mindful of the potential for a wider Middle Eastern conflict arising from the already volatile situation stemming from the ongoing Israeli-Hamas clash in Gaza and Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel.
In a separate commentary, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asserted that Iran could no longer effectively leverage its affiliates Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel. He claimed, “These organizations have become ineffective tools for Iran,” emphasizing in his speech the perceived decline in their operational capabilities.
Gallant remarked that Hamas no longer operates as a robust military network in Gaza and claimed that Hezbollah’s senior leadership and a majority of their missile arsenal had been dismantled.
Contrarily, Hamas insists it remains a viable military force, as Israel continues to undertake substantial operations in the war-torn northern Gaza, targeting what it perceives as regrouping militants.
Hezbollah has countered by stating that its command structure is still intact and that it retains substantial missile power.
In light of recent developments, the Israeli military recommended that residents in fourteen villages across southern Lebanon evacuate without delay and head north of the Awali River.
Moreover, an Israeli airstrike in Sidon, a southern coastal city, resulted in the deaths of nine individuals and inflicted injuries on twenty-five, as reported by the national health ministry. Additional strikes in the southern region, including one in Zawtar al-Sharkiya that killed three, and another bombing in Marjayoun that resulted in five fatalities, further illustrated the escalating violence in the area.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
