ALBAWABA - Israel Reacts to Hezbollah's Attack on an Israeli Military Base Near Haifa with Heavy Airstrikes on the Southern Suburbs of Beirut
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted a drone launched from Lebanon, and Hezbollah said early Saturday that a missile attack had been conducted against Israel's Zvulun military facility near Haifa. In response, the IDF launched a series of airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Hezbollah's drone and missile attacks on Israeli cities and settlements, mostly in northern Israel, marked the beginning of the escalation. Rockets were reportedly fired from Lebanon toward Haifa Bay and the Upper Galilee. While sirens rang across northern communities including Safed, Acre, and Haifa, the IDF reported intercepting a few missiles. According to reports, one missile landed close to Kiryat Bialik, while another was stopped in midair.
Multiple Hezbollah sites in the southern suburbs of Beirut, including at Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh, and Al-Hadath, were hit by Israeli aircraft, causing significant structural damage and fires in civilian communities. The aftermath was documented on social media, revealing extensive damage in these regions.
After Israeli airstrikes on the city of Tyre, the Lebanese Ministry of Health recorded 30 injuries and three fatalities. Along with the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, strikes were also conducted in the districts of Tyre, Nabatieh, Marjayoun, Hasbaya, and Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon.
Israeli reservists pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal article that Hezbollah's strategies in Lebanon are comparable to those of Hamas in Gaza, but that the difficulties in Lebanon are more severe. The IDF has admitted that 16 troops have been wounded and five soldiers have killed in continuing fighting in Lebanon.
Israel has increased bombings across Lebanon and initiated a small ground attack in the south since broadening its operations on September 23. Since the battle escalated on October 8, 2023, more than 2,670 people have died and at least 13,888 have been injured, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.
