Israel launches targeted airstrike on Lebanon in a bid to eliminate a senior Hezbollah commander behind Golan Heights massacre
- The rocket hit an apartment building in Beirut at 7:40 p.m. local time
- The attack follows a Hezbollah assault on the Golan Heights on Saturday
Israel carried out a targeted airstrike on the Lebanese capital tonight in a dramatic attempt to eliminate a top Hezbollah commander.
The rocket attack at 7:40 p.m. local time followed a terrorist attack in the Golan Heights on Saturday that killed 12 children.
An Israeli attack on Beirut was expected after Hezbollah’s attack on a playground.
Tonight, video footage shows an apartment building on fire and panic in the southern suburb of Haret Hreik.
Tensions rose as emergency workers pulled victims from several damaged buildings, including a hospital.
Sky TV journalist Alex Crawford was confronted by angry local residents when she tried to broadcast live from the scene of the explosion.
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital tonight in a dramatic attempt to eliminate a top Hezbollah commander
People walk near the building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut
An ambulance makes its way through the crowd. Tonight, video footage showed an apartment building on fire and a sense of panic in the southern suburb of Haret Hreik
According to the Lebanese state news agency National News Agency, Haret Hreik is home to a Hezbollah headquarters, a “Shura council.”
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the specific target of the Israeli strike was Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Israel was expected to attack Beirut after Hezbollah’s rocket attack last weekend.
The rocket was thought to have been fired accidentally, but Israel said that since children had been killed, the group had “crossed a red line.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant repeated the phrase in a message he posted on X minutes after yesterday’s airstrike.
Earlier this week, the UK called on Britons to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, amid fears of a wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Should British citizens remain stranded there, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are expected to lead a maritime evacuation mission.
As the Mail previously revealed, British commandos have been carrying out reconnaissance operations along the Lebanese coastline in support of such an operation.
Medical workers in Beirut treat an injured man after an Israeli attack. Tensions rose as paramedics pulled victims from several damaged buildings, including a hospital
An Israeli attack on Beirut was expected after Hezbollah’s attack on a playground in the Golan Heights last weekend, which killed 12 children
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a small-scale conflict since the Hamas attacks of October 7 last year. The tit-for-tat attacks have continued since then. Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel’s strategic priority remains the eradication of Hamas.
Tonight it was still unclear how many casualties the Israeli airstrike had caused, as well as what the fate of Shukr was.
US diplomats have urged Israel not to escalate the conflict. Last night’s attack could therefore prove to be a one-off incident by Israel.
However, if Hezbollah responds with an attack on the northern Israeli city of Haifa, which is within range of its missiles, a wider war could erupt.
Israel would be reluctant to tackle Hezbollah as long as it is still engaged in cooperation with Hamas in Gaza.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a small-scale conflict since the Hamas attacks of October 7 last year. The tit-for-tat attacks have continued since then.
The last time Israel attacked Beirut was in January, when an airstrike killed Saleh Arouri, a senior Hamas official stationed in the city.
It was the first time Israel attacked the Lebanese capital since the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel’s strategic priority remains the eradication of Hamas.