Israeli fighter jets launched overnight bombardments on Beirut’s southern suburbs, prompting panicked families to flee the area. Following heavy shelling on Friday, Israel warned residents to evacuate the densely populated Dahiyeh suburbs before dawn on Saturday. Hundreds of families sought shelter in Martyrs’ Square and along the seaside boardwalk. The airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters and weapons facilities, with reports suggesting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target. The explosions were the fiercest in the area since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces intercepted projectiles fired from Lebanon, leading to increased tensions. Hospitals in Beirut’s southern suburbs were evacuated after the strikes, with Lebanon’s health ministry urging unaffected hospitals to halt non-urgent admissions.
This escalation follows a series of attacks in Beirut, with continuous airstrikes before dawn on Saturday. The strikes intensified fears of a broader conflict involving Iran and the United States. Lebanese officials reported casualties from the attacks, and Israel claimed to have killed Hezbollah commanders. Tensions rose further as Hezbollah retaliated by targeting cities in northern Israel. United States President Joe Biden directed an assessment of American forces in the Middle East following the attacks. European Union officials expressed concern over Netanyahu’s actions, and protests erupted in Iran and Yemen against Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza. These events occurred after Netanyahu’s combative speech at the UN General Assembly, where he dismissed calls for a ceasefire and asserted Israeli victory on multiple fronts. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East, highlighting Gaza as a focal point of conflict.
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