Israel carries out new attacks in Beirut

Israel carries out new attacks on densely populated areas of Beirut. Hezbollah weapons caches under residential buildings are among the targets, the Israeli military (IDF) said.

Earlier on Friday, the Iran-backed group’s headquarters in Beirut were also attacked, according to the IDF.

The Israeli Air Force continues to carry out extensive airstrikes against Beirut on the night of Saturday.

“Among the targets hit are weapons production facilities, buildings used to store advanced weapons and the terrorist organization’s important command centers,” the IDF writes in a statement.

Beirut has been attacked in several waves during the Friday evening and night. According to Israel, residents of three residential buildings in the densely populated southern suburbs had been warned and asked to evacuate immediately before they were attacked.

Buildings around the city of Tire in southern Lebanon have also been attacked. Several Hezbollah commanders, including the head of its robotic units, were reportedly killed in southern Lebanon, according to the IDF.

Attack on headquarters

Earlier on Friday night, Hezbollah’s headquarters in Dahieh in southern Beirut was attacked, according to the IDF.

The Iran-backed group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah is said to have been the target, according to media reports. However, a source close to Hezbollah said the Shia militia leader is “okay”, but the group has not made any official comment on the attack.

Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said after the attack that the headquarters must have been under a residential building.

A wave of huge explosions leveled six buildings in the Haret Hreik district, Lebanon’s National News Agency reports. At least six people were reported killed and more than 90 injured, Lebanon’s health ministry said in the evening. Rescue operations were still underway during the night

“Dangerous Escalation”

Dahieh is usually described as a strong Hezbollah stronghold, but is also inhabited by many civilians.

Iran’s embassy in Beirut has condemned the attack and warns of a “dangerous escalation” in the Middle East. Hezbollah said on Friday that it fired rockets at the city of Safed in northern Israel.

Israel further stated that Iran will not be allowed to transfer weapons to Hezbollah through Beirut airport and threatened that warplanes are ready to intervene if such activities are detected.

The United States was not informed in advance of Israel’s plans to strike Beirut, according to White House spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.