Beirut experienced one of its most violent moments throughout Wednesday night as Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple areas of the capital.
17 air raids had struck Beirut by dawn on Thursday, hitting the southern suburbs, including Hadath, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Explosions in the Lebanese capital were audible kilometers away and came as the Israeli military ordered residents to leave multiple parts of the southern suburbs, including Haret Hreik, Burj Al-Barajneh, and Hadath, in the early hours of Thursday.
Reported Casualties
Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed that 46 people had been killed and 85 injured in the past 24 hours due to the strikes.
Among the casualties was US citizen Kamel Ahmad Jawad, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The White House expressed deep sadness over his death, describing it as a tragic loss.
South Lebanon
In southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling hit the villages of Khiam, Ibl al-Saqi, Jdeidet Marjayoun, and Kfar Kila.
Air raids were also directed at Bazourieh, Ain Baal, and Arnoun. Three people were killed and four injured in a morning airstrike on Arnoun.
In Tyre, 20 bodies were buried, including two Ethiopian nationals, with DNA tests underway to identify others.
Israeli attacks also targeted Tyre and Bint Jbeil, from midnight last night until this morning, when warplanes attacked the outskirts of the towns of Tura and Abbasiya. The towns of Yarin, al-Bustan, Alma al-Shaab, Tayr Harfa, al-Dahira and Aita al-Shaab were also subject to artillery shelling, which lasted for more than half an hour.
The Israeli army issued an appeal to all residents of Lebanese villages who had evacuated their homes, instructing them not to return home “until further notice.”
Hezbollah retaliated with attacks on Israeli forces, targeting the Hanita site and the Misgav Am settlement with artillery and rocket fire. Hezbollah claimed direct hits on Israeli positions.
The Israeli media reports that a drone launched from Lebanon was shot down by the Israeli Air Force over the sea off the coast of Nahariya on Thursday.
A second drone launched in the attack struck an open area, causing no injuries, the military says.
Additionally, some 25 rockets were launched from Lebanon at the Upper Galilee with the army saying that some of the rockets were intercepted and impacts were also identified.
Bekaa
In the Bekaa Valley, Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of Hermel.