Intensified Israeli Airstrikes Hit Beirut Amid Rising Tensions with Hezbollah
BEIRUT, Lebanon (North Press) – In an unprecedented escalation, Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, early Tuesday. The attack, which marks one of the most significant Israeli operations in Beirut in recent years, reportedly targeted areas linked to Hezbollah, including branches of the financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hasan, which has connections to the armed group.
According to the Israeli military, the airstrikes specifically targeted Hezbollah sites in a “broad and intensified response” to recent confrontations and alleged security threats along Israel’s northern border. By late afternoon, the number of airstrikes on Beirut had reportedly exceeded 20, impacting multiple locations across the city and prompting widespread fear and confusion among residents.
Military Precautions and Warnings
Hours before the airstrikes, the Israeli military issued warnings advising residents in certain districts to vacate buildings believed to house Hezbollah-linked entities. These warnings, which aimed to reduce civilian casualties, highlighted 20 buildings as potential targets, according to a statement from Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari.
The early warnings and sudden escalation reflect Israel’s heightened focus on Hezbollah as a key security concern, amid broader regional tensions and ongoing hostilities with Iranian-backed factions in Syria and Lebanon. In recent weeks, Hezbollah has reportedly increased military activities and training exercises along Lebanon’s southern border, prompting speculation about possible escalations involving Israel.
Reactions from Beirut and International Observers
As plumes of smoke and debris rose over the city, local residents and officials expressed outrage over what they deemed a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned the strikes as “a direct assault on Lebanon’s stability” and called for an emergency United Nations Security Council session to address what he termed “Israel’s unlawful aggression.”
France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, while refraining from overtly condemning Israel’s actions, expressed concern over the intensification of hostilities in Lebanon. The European Union called for restraint and reiterated its support for diplomatic measures to prevent further destabilization in Lebanon, a country that continues to grapple with economic crises and political paralysis.
A live broadcast by Agence France-Presse showed large clouds of smoke rising from at least five separate sites in Beirut, indicating the extensive nature of the strikes. The situation remains tense as citizens fear additional airstrikes in the coming days.