Israeli media reports indicate that Hachem Safieddine, the presumed next leader of Hezbollah, was the target of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah’s executive council, is believed to be the successor to Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a previous Israeli strike. The airstrikes on Friday night, similar to those that killed Nasrallah, resulted in loud explosions and red smoke plumes in Beirut. Israel reportedly used powerful bunker buster bombs in the strike, leaving deep craters.
The Israeli military is issuing new evacuation warnings for civilians near a building in Beirut’s Hadath neighborhood, cautioning residents to stay at least 500 meters away from the area due to potential military action against Hezbollah facilities.
The escalating tensions in the region have also led to a high death toll in Lebanon, with 37 people reported killed in Israeli strikes over the last 24 hours. Lebanon’s health ministry has stated that nearly 2,000 people have been killed and over 9,000 injured in Israeli attacks over the past year. The situation has prompted calls for urgent humanitarian assistance, with the UN expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.
The latest developments highlight the volatile situation in the region, with concerns about the potential for further escalation and civilian casualties amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
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