Israel upped the ante in its ongoing war with Hezbollah, by targeting its headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, in a series of massive airstrikes, which have, reportedly, killed six and injured more than 90 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The airstrikes, which destroyed several high-rise residential buildings, came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's much-awaited speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he had vowed to continue the fight against Hamas and Hezbollah. Soon after the strikes, Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States to return home.
The target of the airstrikes was the main Hezbollah headquarters, Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed, who added that the headquarters were located underneath the residential buildings. Around five apartment buildings were completely destroyed in Haret Hreik. The toll in the attack on the densely populated and predominantly Shiite district is expected to go up as rescue workers were seen combing through the debris even as smoke billowed up from the site.
Who is Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah? Is he alive?
Though the IDF has not confirmed it, AP quoted sources as saying that it was targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. It is not yet known if he was at the headquarters, and the Hezbollah has not confirmed it either.
Hezbollah's missile unit commander Mohammad Ali Ismail has, reportedly, been killed in the attack.
The pager and walkie-talkie blasts earlier this month were, reportedly, aimed to eliminate the top leadership of the Hezbollah group, but the targeting of Nasrallah is expected to escalate the tensions to critical levels.
Hezbollah, which has Iran's backing, had been firing rockets into Israel since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, in a show of support for the Palestinians. It has led to the IDF hitting back with massive airstrikes in Lebanon, in a bid to push Hezbollah away from the border, while continuing its offensive against the Hamas in Gaza.
