As the dust from Israel’s conflict with Hamas begins to settle, the nation is currently engaged in armed conflicts with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iran. Israeli rockets have reportedly been raining down on various parts of Lebanon, with southern Beirut engulfed in violence. Israeli drones have been circling over the city, with attacks following targeted surveillance.
ABP News reporter Jagwinder Patial, on ground zero in southern Beirut, reported that the site of a recent missile strike was directly above the location where Hezbollah’s new chief, Hashem Safi al-Din, was holding a meeting with his commanders. The building, including the bunker where the meeting was held, has been completely destroyed.
During live reporting, Patial described a powerful explosion that shook the ground beneath the building, suggesting the possible detonation of an internal ammunition cache. He noted that Israeli drones continued to hover overhead, and the presence of press markings on their vehicle has been a saving grace, helping to identify them as non-combatants.
Patial explained, “Thankfully, our vehicle is marked as ‘Press,’ which helps the drones recognise us. Similarly, UN vehicles bear distinctive markings to avoid attacks.”
He also highlighted the unpredictability of the strikes, as Israeli drones maintain a relentless presence over the city. He showed images of surrounding structures that had suffered extensive damage, with the heaviest destruction centred on the bunker that was targeted. Smoke and flames are reportedly visible across the area, with debris scattered on the roads.
Israel's Airstrikes In Beirut Sever Border Crossing Between Lebanon And Syria
Israel conducted a series of large-scale airstrikes overnight, hitting the southern suburbs of Beirut and severing the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria. This escalation has intensified an already volatile situation, with thousands of people attempting to flee the ongoing bombardment. According to news agency Associated Press, the strikes have left southern Beirut in flames, as thick plumes of smoke filled the night sky, with the blasts shaking buildings several kilometres away.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that over ten consecutive airstrikes were carried out in the area. The heaviest damage was inflicted on a bunker where Hezbollah’s new chief, Hashem Safi al-Din, was reportedly meeting with his commanders, AP's report stated.
In a separate incident, the Israeli military confirmed that an airstrike on Thursday killed Mohammed Rashid Skafi, the head of Hezbollah’s communications division. According to an Israeli statement, Skafi had been a senior member of Hezbollah since 2000 and held close ties with top Hezbollah officials. The strike targeted his location in southern Beirut.
The overnight strikes also extended to the Lebanon-Syria border, approximately 50 kilometres east of Beirut, leading to the closure of the Masnaa Border Crossing. Israel claimed that Hezbollah was utilising this crossing to transport military equipment and stated that it targeted a tunnel used to smuggle weapons from Iran and other proxies into Lebanon, according to AP.
Hezbollah, backed by Iranian support, maintains a significant presence on both sides of the border, actively participating in the Syrian conflict alongside President Bashar Assad's forces.