Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on Friday, hitting suburbs of Beirut and cutting off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, leading to thousands of people fleeing the area. The Israeli military targeted Hezbollah’s central intelligence headquarters, claiming to have killed 100 Hezbollah fighters in the last 24 hours.
The overnight strikes sent huge plumes of smoke and flames into the night sky and shook buildings kilometers away in the Lebanese capital. Additional strikes sent people running for cover in streets littered with rubble in the Dahiyeh neighborhood, where at least one building was leveled and cars were burned out.
Hezbollah launched about 100 rockets into Israel on Friday, according to the Israel military. The Israeli military also said that a strike in Beirut the day before killed Mohammed Rashid Skafi, the head of Hezbollah’s communications division.
Israel said it targeted the crossing because it was being used by Hezbollah to transport military equipment across the border. It said fighter jets had struck a tunnel used to smuggle weapons from Iran and other proxies into Lebanon.
Hezbollah is believed to have received much of its weaponry through Syria from Iran, its main backer. Associated Press video footage showed two huge craters on each side of the road. People got out of cars, unable to pass, carrying bags of their possessions as they crossed on foot.
More than 250,000 Syrians and 82,000 Lebanese have fled across the border into Syria during the escalation of the past two weeks. There are a half-dozen crossings between the two countries, and most remain open.
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Israel launched its ground escalation in Lebanon on Tuesday, and its forces have been clashing with Hezbollah militants in a narrow strip along the border. Israel has vowed to put an end to Hezbollah fire into northern Israel, after nearly a year of exchanges between the two sides that drove tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border.
Israeli Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters Friday that the ground operations were limited, aimed at rooting out Hezbollah militants and making the border safe for northern residents of Israel to return to their homes.
“First of all, our mission is to make sure they’re (Hezbollah) not there,” Shoshani said. “Afterwards we will talk about how we make sure they don’t come back.”
Nine Israeli troops have been killed in close fighting in the area, which is saturated with arms and explosives, the military said.
Two more soldiers were killed and two were severely wounded by a drone attack in northern Israel, military officials said.
An umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it carried out three drone strikes Friday in northern Israel. In recent months, the group has regularly claimed drone strikes launched at Israel, but the strikes have rarely landed.
The missile barrage amid a series of rapidly escalating attacks has threatened to push the Middle East closer to a regionwide war.
Conclusion:
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a series of escalating attacks, with Israel launching airstrikes on Hezbollah positions and the militant group responding with rocket fire into Israel. The conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes and has the potential to spread to other parts of the region.
FAQs:
Q: What has been the impact of the conflict on civilians?
A: The conflict has forced thousands of people to flee their homes, including tens of thousands of Lebanese and Syrians. Many civilians have been injured or killed in the attacks.
Q: What is the cause of the conflict?
A: The conflict is the result of a long-standing rivalry between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran. The two sides have been engaged in a series of escalating attacks over the past year.
Q: What is the role of Iran in the conflict?
A: Iran has been accused of backing Hezbollah and providing the group with weapons and support. Iran has also claimed responsibility for launching missile strikes on Israel.
Q: What is the response of the international community to the conflict?
A: The international community has been largely silent on the conflict, with many countries refusing to take sides. Some countries, such as the United States, have criticized Hezbollah and called for restraint, while others, such as Russia, have condemned Israel’s actions.