In a major escalation of the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, at least four missiles were launched in an airstrike early on Saturday, targeting the Basta neighborhood in Beirut. The strike caused a violent explosion, and witnesses reported hearing the blast throughout the Lebanese capital. The conflict, which has been ongoing for a year, intensified when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
Recently, Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah has ramped up, with airstrikes hitting southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley—areas where many of Hezbollah's top leaders have been killed. In retaliation, Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets deeper into Israeli territory.
As the violence grows, Israel has been using both airstrikes and ground troops along the border, while Hezbollah responds with rocket fire. The situation remains highly volatile, with military operations continuing from both sides.
In a separate development, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, said its fighters targeted Israeli troops in and around the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, using artillery, rockets, and drones. According to Lebanon’s official news agency, the Israeli forces have been destroying homes and residential buildings during their incursions into the town. Since Israeli ground troops entered Lebanon on September 30, heavy fighting and airstrikes have been reported in the Khiam area.
The renewed Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs came after a period of relative calm, which coincided with the visit of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein. Hochstein has been working to mediate a ceasefire to end the almost two-month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that at least 3,583 people have been killed in the violence since October 2023, a toll that continues to rise as the conflict persists.
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