The Israeli army continues to shell this Saturday the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, where a raid of unprecedented violence targeted the powerful leader of the pro-Iranian armed movement Hassan Nasrallah in person on Friday, according to Israeli media. A source close to the Islamist group indicated that Nasrallah was unhurt. But almost 12 hours after the strike, Hezbollah had still made no official announcement.
This Saturday morning, the IDF announced new strikes in eastern Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed to have bombed northern Israel in response to the night’s strikes.
A call to evacuate launched by the IDF
Hundreds of families crammed into cars fled the area in disaster, following a call from the Israeli army to evacuate. Traffic jams formed in the middle of the night in the streets of the capital, usually deserted at this time and plunged into darkness due to lack of power. On the Place des Martyrs or on the seaside ledge, men, women and children were sitting on the ground, looking disoriented.
“We were at home when there was this call to evacuate. We took our identity papers, our belongings and we went out,” said Radwan Msallam, a Syrian refugee. This father of six children added that he had “nowhere to go”, unable to return to his country. Hospitals in the southern suburbs of Beirut will be evacuated, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Saturday.
On Telegram, the Israeli army said it was carrying out new strikes in the Beirut region overnight from Friday to Saturday targeting civilian buildings housing, according to it, arms depots, munitions factories and command centers of the Hezbollah.
The leader of Hezbollah, target of these strikes
The Islamist movement denied Israel’s “allegations” about the presence of weapons depots in residential buildings. Israel had earlier indicated that it had bombed Hezbollah’s “headquarters” in this area. The leader of Hezbollah was targeted by this strike, according to several Israeli television stations. Hassan Nasrallah “is doing well”, however assured a source close to the movement on condition of anonymity.
“We are still verifying the results of the attack on Hezbollah’s central headquarters,” Israeli army spokesman General Daniel Hagari said at a press briefing Friday evening. “We will communicate as soon as we know. We know our attack was very precise,” he added.
Huge explosions, at least 6 dead
The raid, of incredible power, took place at 5:30 p.m. in a densely populated neighborhood. It left at least six dead and 91 injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
According to a source close to Hezbollah, six buildings were completely destroyed, lifted by huge explosions which caused thick columns of smoke and dug large craters, sowing panic among residents. “Oh my God, what strikes!” I thought the building was going to collapse on me (…) I don’t have the words to describe this feeling,” exclaimed Abir Hammoud, a teacher in her forties.
The Israeli army also claimed on Telegram on Saturday that it had killed in another air attack the commander of a missile unit of the movement and his deputy in southern Lebanon. “Other Hezbollah commanders and terrorists were eliminated along with them,” she added. The Israeli army had indicated earlier in the night that its air force was flying over the surroundings of the capital’s airport, to prevent Iran from landing arms shipments intended for Hezbollah.
More than 700 dead since Monday
She also said she was carrying out strikes against Hezbollah targets in the region of Tire (south) and that of the Bekaa (east), another stronghold of the movement. “As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no other choice,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN. These operations will continue “until all our objectives are achieved,” added Benjamin Netanyahu, dashing hopes of a truce proposed Wednesday by France and the United States.
Since Monday, these bombings have left more than 700 dead, the majority of them civilians according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. In one year, the number of people killed rose to more than 1,500, a death toll higher than that of the 33 days of war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
The Israeli army also said it was preparing for a possible ground incursion, which would be “as short” as possible, an Israeli security official assured Friday.
