The southern suburbs of Beirut endured an intense barrage of Israeli airstrikes overnight, with more than 30 raids targeting the area.
The bombardment began shortly after nearly five evacuation notices were issued by the Israeli army for several locations, including Bourj al-Barajneh and Haret Hreik.
Airstrikes specifically targeted Bourj al-Barajneh, Ghobeiry and Choueifat. In one instance, near Bourj al-Barajneh, a massive fireball shot into the sky after a strike hit a gas station on the old airport road.
Another strike reportedly targeted an al-Manar television channel studio in Haret Hreik, near Hay el-Amerkan. However, the building had been evacuated before the attack.
In Ghobeiry, a particularly violent raid reverberated through the capital and distant areas, with some residents claiming the sound was heard tens of kilometers away. A column of fire rose above the targeted infrastructure, scattering unidentified shrapnel.
Initial reports indicated that a medical supplies warehouse had been hit, igniting a fire due to oxygen canisters stored inside. However, Khaled Kadouha, owner of Kadouha Oxygen, denied that his company had been struck.
Several media outlets also reported that the shrapnel originated from an attack on a weapons warehouse in Ghobeiry. As a result, residents in surrounding areas, particularly Sabra and Ard Jaloul, evacuated as the bombardment continued, fearing that additional shrapnel would fall.
Despite the destruction, air traffic at Rafic Hariri International Airport persisted. It was confirmed that Middle East Airlines flights continued to land, making it the only airline still operating in Beirut during the strikes.
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