Israel executed an unusual strike on Beirut on Tuesday, resulting in at least one fatality and intensifying the growing tensions with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
A significant explosion was heard in the Lebanese capital just before 8 p.m. local time, with smoke rising from the impacted area, known to be a Hezbollah stronghold.
According to the Israeli military, the strike targeted the commander allegedly responsible for the deaths of 12 children and teenagers in a weekend rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, as well as numerous Israeli civilians killed in other attacks.
“The IDF carried out a targeted strike in Beirut, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians,” stated the Israeli military.
U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, commented on Tuesday that he did not see full-scale war as inevitable.
U.S. diplomats have been advocating for restraint from both parties, communicating their messages to Hezbollah via intermediaries, including Lebanon’s foreign minister.
“While we’ve seen a lot of activity on Israel’s northern border, we remain concerned about the potential of this escalating into a full-blown fight. And I don’t believe that a fight is inevitable,” Austin remarked. “We’d like to see things resolved in a diplomatic fashion.”
Austin’s statements were made at a joint press conference in Manila following security talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Philippine counterparts.
“Hezbollah crossed a red line,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X shortly after the strike.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the drone strike, which launched three rockets, resulted in the death of one woman and injured several others, some seriously.
The wounded were transported to nearby hospitals, with Bahman Hospital near the blast site calling for blood donations.
It was not immediately confirmed if the intended target was killed or injured.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah responded on social media, stating the “assassination attempt” had failed, and promised that “an official statement in response will be issued by the Islamic Resistance as soon as all facts are taken into account.”
Following the explosion caused by the Israeli airstrike in the Dahieh area of Beirut on July 30, 2024, security forces and healthcare teams arrived at the scene.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately issue a statement, but shortly after the strike, a photo was released showing the prime minister with his national security advisor and other officials.
Hezbollah’s TV station and an official confirmed that the Israeli airstrike hit the group’s stronghold south of Beirut, causing damage.
Meanwhile, in Israel, tensions were high as soldiers were set to appear before a military court on Tuesday over allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian at a facility where prisoners from Gaza have been held during the war.
Hard-line nationalists in Netanyahu’s government and others have protested. An investigation by The Associated Press has revealed dire conditions at Sde Teiman, where many of the thousands detained from Gaza are held.
Israeli authorities generally deny abuses in detention facilities for Palestinians.
In Gaza, more bodies and destruction were discovered after Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Khan Younis.
The Health Ministry reported over 39,300 deaths since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war. Disease is rampant in overcrowded tent camps housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in appalling conditions.
