Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes across Lebanon early Wednesday after issuing evacuation warnings to residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, urged residents in the neighborhoods of Haret Hreik and Burj al-Barajneh to leave the area immediately, saying the military was preparing to target infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.
“Anyone near Hezbollah members, facilities, or combat equipment is putting their life and the lives of their family members at risk,” Adraee said in a statement posted on social media.
Shortly after the warning, the Israeli military announced it had begun a new wave of strikes targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs as well as areas in southern Lebanon, including the city of Tyre.
Strike Reported in Central Beirut
Earlier Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment in a residential building in the Aisha Bakkar neighborhood of Beirut, marking one of the rare attacks inside the capital outside Hezbollah-controlled areas.
The strike reportedly hit shortly after midnight, with some outlets reporting that it was carried out by Israeli naval vessels positioned offshore.
Ambulance teams evacuated residents from neighboring apartments following the explosion, while Lebanese security forces deployed heavily in the area.
Casualties Reported in the Bekaa
In Lebanon’s northern Bekaa Valley, preliminary reports indicated that 10 people were killed and five others wounded, several critically, in Israeli strikes on the towns of Tamnin and Ali Nahri.
Israeli aircraft also struck the outskirts of Harbata in northern Bekaa.
Warplanes carried out another strike in the town of Shaat, north of Baalbek, though no injuries were immediately reported.
Intensified Bombing in Southern Lebanon
Across southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes hit multiple towns overnight and into Wednesday.
In Nabatieh, one person was killed after an Israeli airstrike struck Mahmoud Fakih Street.
Three young men were also killed shortly after midnight in the town of Sharqiya when an Israeli strike hit the house they were in, destroying it. The victims were identified as Jihad Shuaib, Hussein Hassan Shuaib, and Mahdi Hussein Shuaib.
Israeli aircraft also struck Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the town of Tayri, the town of Babliya, Nabatieh al-Tahta, including Mahmoud Fakih Street, the town of Shaqra, and a vehicle in the Saf al-Hawa area of Bint Jbeil, resulting in casualties.
Additional airstrikes targeted Jibsheet, Arabsalim, and Zoutar al-Sharqiya.
Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Israeli warplanes also struck the outskirts of Srirah, along the Srirah-Jezzine road in the Dahr al-Harf area.
Expanding Front
The latest strikes come as Israel continues expanding its military campaign in Lebanon following the escalation triggered by Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel.
With Israeli evacuation warnings expanding to new areas and airstrikes hitting locations across the country, fears are growing that the fighting could intensify further in the coming days.
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