By Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, and James Mackenzie
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli airstrike targeted a Hezbollah commander in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday, according to two security sources in Lebanon. The strike resulted in the deaths of six individuals following statements by Israel’s military chief that the Iran-backed group would be given no respite.
This marked the second consecutive day of Israeli airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled area of Beirut. These actions have heightened concerns that the ongoing conflict, which has lasted nearly a year, could escalate into a full-scale war, thereby destabilizing the Middle East, an oil-producing region.
Previously engaged in a nearly year-long conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, Israel is now focusing on its northern border. Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel in support of Hamas, which is also backed by Iran.
The Lebanese sources did not disclose the identity of the individual targeted in Tuesday’s strike nor confirm his fate. Lebanon’s health ministry reported an initial toll of six dead and 15 wounded from the strike.
The Israeli military acknowledged conducting a strike in Beirut on Tuesday but did not provide further details. The airstrike impacted a building in the typically busy Ghobeiry neighborhood. One security source shared a photo depicting damage to the top floor of the five-story structure.
The military chief of Israel, General Staff Herzi Halevi, emphasized that attacks on Hezbollah would be intensified. “The situation requires continued, intense action in all arenas,” Halevi stated following a security assessment.
According to Lebanese authorities, 558 people were killed, including 50 children and 94 women, as a result of Israeli airstrikes on Monday. Additionally, 1,835 people were wounded, and tens of thousands have fled to safety.
Lebanon is experiencing widespread panic due to the casualty tolls and constant pressure from Israel’s military, the most powerful and advanced in the Middle East. This situation is reminiscent of the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which resulted in severe destruction.
Local residents expressed a mixture of hope and defiance. Beirut resident Hassan Omar stated, “We are waiting for victory, God willing, because as long as we have a neighbour like Israel, we can’t sleep safely.” Afif Ibrahim, a taxi driver from southern Lebanon, added, “They (Israel) want us (Lebanese) to kneel, but we kneel only to God in our prayers; we bow our heads to no one but God.”
As the conflict worsens, there are increasing calls for diplomatic intervention. UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged all states and influential actors to prevent further escalation in Lebanon. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed hope for a diplomatic solution, stating, “I believe that we can still find a path forward to get de-escalation between Israel and across that northern border between Israel and Lebanon.”
The conflict has raised concerns about the involvement of the United States, a close ally of Israel, and regional power Iran, which has proxies in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq.
Hezbollah has faced significant pressure, notably suffering heavy losses last week when thousands of its pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in an incident attributed to Israel’s sophisticated operations. Israel did not confirm or deny responsibility for the breach.
Hezbollah’s media office reported on Tuesday that Israel was dispersing leaflets with a “very dangerous” barcode in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, claiming that scanning the barcode could result in data extraction from devices. There was no comment from the Israeli military on the matter.
Israel’s intelligence and technological capabilities have provided a strategic advantage in both Lebanon and Gaza, enabling the country to track and assassinate top commanders from Hezbollah and Hamas.
On Tuesday, Israel’s military reported that approximately 55 projectiles had crossed into Israel, most of which were intercepted. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for bombing the logistical warehouses of the 146th Division at the Naftali base with a rocket salvo.
