Israeli Airstrikes Shake Beirut, Target Hezbollah Command – Reuters

By Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, and Emily Rose

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM – The Israeli military has instructed residents in parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate as of late Friday, following strikes targeting Hezbollah’s central headquarters. Hours later, there was still no information from the group regarding the status of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the order via social media, warning residents to move at least 500 meters away from three specific locations. This marked the first such evacuation order for the densely populated neighborhoods south of Beirut.

Sources close to Hezbollah confirmed to media outlets that Nasrallah is alive, and an Iranian news agency also reported his safety. A high-ranking Iranian security official stated that Tehran was in the process of verifying his condition. While Hezbollah’s media office dismissed any claims related to the Israeli strikes, they did not address the fate of their leader.

In New York, an Israeli official revealed that senior Hezbollah commanders were the intended targets of the strikes, though it was too early to determine if Nasrallah was present at the time.

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon described the attack as targeting a "meeting of bad actors" who were allegedly planning further assaults on Israel. "Nasrallah is a bad actor. He’s a terrorist with significant responsibility for the deaths of many Americans and thousands of Israelis, and he deserves to be held accountable," Danon stated, while admitting he could not confirm Nasrallah’s attendance at the meeting.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the strikes resulted in two fatalities and 76 injuries, a number that may rise as the situation evolves.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television reported the destruction of four buildings and numerous casualties resulting from the attacks, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Live coverage from al-Manar depicted rescue teams working through rubble and debris, highlighting extensive damage in the area.

The Israeli military contended that it executed a "precise strike" on Hezbollah’s headquarters, which they claimed were situated beneath residential structures.

Over the past week, Israel has conducted four attacks on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, resulting in the deaths of at least three senior military leaders from the group. However, Friday’s assault was notably more intense, with multiple explosions felt throughout the city, reminiscent of airstrikes during the 2006 war with Hezbollah.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari indicated that the command center targeted by the strikes was deeply embedded within civilian neighborhoods. The bombings occurred just after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to targeting Iranian-backed militants in Lebanon during a speech at the United Nations, as hopes for a ceasefire appeared to wane.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack, asserting that it demonstrated Israel’s disregard for global calls for a ceasefire. An Iranian embassy statement labeled the strike a dangerous escalation, warning that it would provoke appropriate retaliation.

The rising tensions have drawn concern at the United Nations, where the General Assembly was gathering. France, which had previously proposed a 21-day ceasefire, expressed alarm at the scale of the strikes, emphasizing the urgent need to halt hostilities.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the situation, advocating for diplomacy rather than conflict, and emphasizing the importance of pursuing a peaceful resolution.

The recent Israeli attack on Beirut is the most powerful seen during nearly a year of escalation with Hezbollah. Security sources in Lebanon indicated that the strike targeted an area known to house key Hezbollah figures. In just this past week, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in over 700 fatalities in Lebanon, heightening fears of a more destructive conflict.

In its first official response since the strikes, Hezbollah announced that it had fired rockets at the Israeli city of Safed. Israeli emergency services confirmed treating one woman for minor injuries resulting from the rocket fire.

During his speech at the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu declared that as long as Hezbollah persisted in its aggression, Israel would respond decisively to eliminate the threat to its citizens. Several delegations walked out as Netanyahu addressed the assembly, while supporters cheered.

Following the escalation, Netanyahu’s office announced he would shorten his trip and return to Israel. The United States reportedly had no advance notice of the Beirut strikes, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in contact with his Israeli counterpart during the operation.

Israel has stated that its campaign is aimed at ensuring the safety of thousands of residents displaced in northern Israel due to Hezbollah rocket attacks, which have been conducted in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The current escalation has led to the displacement of approximately 100,000 people in Lebanon, raising the total number affected by the conflict to over 200,000. Israel claims that the ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah has forced around 70,000 Israelis to evacuate from northern regions.