Thick smoke rises over Beirut after loud blast in southern suburbs: Report
NEW DELHI: Israel on Friday conducted “a targeted strike” on Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut. A thick cloud of smoke was seen rising over the Lebanese capital after residents in the southern suburbs said they heard a loud blast.
“Israel conducted an air strike on the Beirut southern suburbs near Al-Qaem mosque,” the security official told news agency AFP.
Earlier, Hezbollah launched a barrage of 140 rockets into northern Israel after Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, pledged to strike back at Israel in response to Israel’s recent air strikes.
The Israeli military reported that the rockets were fired in three separate waves on Friday afternoon, targeting various locations along the border with Lebanon.
The Israeli military confirmed that 120 missiles were fired at areas in the Golan Heights, Safed, and the Upper Galilee, with some being intercepted. Fire crews were dispatched to extinguish fires caused by debris that had fallen in various locations. The military did not report any casualties or successful missile strikes on targets.
An additional 20 missiles were launched at the areas of Meron and Netua, with most landing in open areas and no injuries reported, according to the military.
Israel on Thursday launched air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon while several of its low-flying jets caused sonic booms over Beirut where Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was addressing his supporters.
The Israeli army said the strikes were part of its efforts to return displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel.”The army is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure,” IDF said in a statement.
37 people were killed and around 3,000 were injured including many Hezbollah fighters after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon earlier this week.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the explosions but multiple security sources have said they were carried out by its spy agency Mossad.
Additionally, the Lebanese army called on citizens to report any suspicious devices. Lebanese authorities have also banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being taken on flights from Beirut airport until further notice, the National News Agency reported. Such devices were also banned from being shipped by air.
Meanwhile, Israel began moving more troops to its border with Lebanon on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, Israeli officials said. Israel’s army chief said plans have been drawn up for additional action against Hezbollah, though media reported the government has not yet decided whether to launch a major offensive in Lebanon.
“Israel conducted an air strike on the Beirut southern suburbs near Al-Qaem mosque,” the security official told news agency AFP.
Earlier, Hezbollah launched a barrage of 140 rockets into northern Israel after Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, pledged to strike back at Israel in response to Israel’s recent air strikes.
The Israeli military reported that the rockets were fired in three separate waves on Friday afternoon, targeting various locations along the border with Lebanon.
The Israeli military confirmed that 120 missiles were fired at areas in the Golan Heights, Safed, and the Upper Galilee, with some being intercepted. Fire crews were dispatched to extinguish fires caused by debris that had fallen in various locations. The military did not report any casualties or successful missile strikes on targets.
An additional 20 missiles were launched at the areas of Meron and Netua, with most landing in open areas and no injuries reported, according to the military.
Israel on Thursday launched air strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon while several of its low-flying jets caused sonic booms over Beirut where Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was addressing his supporters.
The Israeli army said the strikes were part of its efforts to return displaced Israelis to their homes in northern Israel.”The army is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure,” IDF said in a statement.
37 people were killed and around 3,000 were injured including many Hezbollah fighters after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon earlier this week.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the explosions but multiple security sources have said they were carried out by its spy agency Mossad.
Additionally, the Lebanese army called on citizens to report any suspicious devices. Lebanese authorities have also banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being taken on flights from Beirut airport until further notice, the National News Agency reported. Such devices were also banned from being shipped by air.
Meanwhile, Israel began moving more troops to its border with Lebanon on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, Israeli officials said. Israel’s army chief said plans have been drawn up for additional action against Hezbollah, though media reported the government has not yet decided whether to launch a major offensive in Lebanon.
