Israeli airstrikes target Beirut after evacuation warning
Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike near the ruins of the ancient Roman Temple of Bacchus in Lebanon's eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa valley on October 19, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP Photo)
Two Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday, following warnings for civilians to evacuate areas associated with Hezbollah, according to Lebanese state media.
The strikes hit a residential building in Haret Hreik, close to a mosque and a hospital, according to the National News Agency. The Israeli army had earlier issued an “urgent warning” for civilians to leave the area, which it identified as a Hezbollah stronghold.
Hezbollah accused of assassination attempt on Netanyahu
The airstrikes come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him with a drone attack on his residence in Caesarea on Saturday.
Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time, and no injuries were reported.
“The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake,” Netanyahu said in a statement. Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in conflict since late September, escalating tensions in the region.
Regional conflict intensifies
Iran rejects Israeli allegations over attack on Netanyahu’s home. “We have already responded to the Israeli regime, and the action in question has been carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon,” the Iranian mission said.
Although Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility, the group has declared this a “new phase” in the ongoing war with Israel.
The conflict has seen increasing airstrikes in southern Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley, where evacuation orders have displaced many civilians.
