Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments intensified across Lebanon on Saturday, targeting Beirut’s southern suburb, towns in southern Lebanon, and areas in the Beqaa Valley, resulting in widespread destruction and casualties.
Beirut’s Southern Suburb Targeted
Israeli warplanes and drones launched at least three airstrikes on Haret Hreik in Beirut’s southern suburb on Saturday morning, following evacuation alerts for two buildings in the area issued by the Israeli Army.
The strikes destroyed four buildings on Abbas al-Moussawi Street and a structure adjacent to the Haret Hreik municipality. Thick smoke plumes continue to rise over the area, while heavy, low-altitude Israeli aircraft patrols remain ongoing.
Among the second barrage of Israeli attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs, approximately six strikes targeted Bir al-Abed, Burj al-Barajneh, and Chiyah. One strike hit near the vegetable market in Chiyah, preceded by a less intense raid in the vicinity.
Israeli raid on #Chiyah on Saturday pic.twitter.com/1XNuwnyoKS
— This is Beirut (@ThisIsBeirut_) November 16, 2024
Southern Lebanon Attacks
Israeli airstrikes intensified across southern Lebanon, targeting multiple towns and residential areas. Early Saturday, heavy machine gun fire hit Naqoura, Jabal al-Labounneh, Alma al-Shaab, Tayr Harfa, Dhayra, and Aita al-Shaab.
In Nabatiyeh, airstrikes demolished a house in the al-Qalaa neighborhood of Sir al-Gharbiya, with further raids reported in Kfar Qasir, Ain Baal, Aaytit, Deir Qanun, Ras al-Ain, Shaqra, Baraashit, and al-Shaitieh. Simultaneously, artillery fire hit Shamaa and Majdal Zoun.
In Abba, Nabatiyeh district, a three-story house was destroyed, while strikes in Burj Rahal, Tyre, killed two paramedics and wounded several others. Search operations for the missing are ongoing.
Airstrikes also escalated in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts, targeting homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Bafleh, Ghandouriyeh, al-Tiri, Ramadiyeh, Joya, and near the al-Rashidieh camp. Villages in the western sector, including Tayr Harfa, al-Jabine, Sheheen, al-Dhayra, and Shamaa suffered heavy artillery shelling.
A series of raids also hit the city of Tyre destroying two buildings and damaging several others.
Another Israeli drone raid targeted a Civil Defense team from the Islamic Health Authority in the area between Arnoun and Kfar Tibnit, as they were carrying out a field mission. Initial reports indicate that some of the rescue workers were injured.
Overnight, Israeli forces reportedly blew up the shrine of Prophet Shimon al-Safa before retreating from Shamaa Hill under intense resistance. Hezbollah claimed counterattacks forced Israeli withdrawals from the Shamaa and Tayr Harfa axes after fierce clashes.
Wissam Ghazal, head of the Tyre district clinic at Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, reported eight deaths and 36 injuries from Friday’s airstrikes.
Western Beqaa Attacks
In Western Beqaa, Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Labaya, with two strikes reported early Saturday.
Hezbollah and Israeli Claims
Hezbollah announced successful strikes on the headquarters of the 769th Infantry Battalion of the Israeli Army’s Eastern Brigade in the Ramim barracks.
Hezbollah carried out an air attack using a swarm of kamikaze drones against the headquarters of the “Shayetet 13” special naval forces in the Atlit base, south of Haifa.
It also targeted the “Stella Maris” naval base, the Shraga base north of Acre, an Israeli position regrouping army forces, located in the Yaara barracks.
According to Israeli army radio, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon towards western Galilee. The Israeli army claimed to have intercepted some of these rockets, stating that it had detected the launch of 20 rockets.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Army stated that sirens were triggered in western Galilee after intercepting drones launched from Lebanon. Additional sirens sounded in Nahariya and nearby Galilee towns following the interception of a drone from Ras al-Naqoura aimed at Nahariya.
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