An Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut on Tuesday, according to a Lebanese security source. The strike targeted two floors of a residential building in the Ghobeiri area, the source said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, stating, “The IDF conducted a targeted strike in Beirut. Details to follow.”
An AFP photographer at the scene reported that two floors of the building were destroyed in the densely populated residential area, with damage extending to nearby vehicles.
This marks the second consecutive day of Israeli strikes in Beirut. On Monday, Israel also launched a “targeted strike” on the city. While Hezbollah initially said the attack was aimed at its third-in-command, Ali Karake, the group later confirmed that Karake had safely relocated before the strike.
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which has seen near-daily exchanges of cross-border fire since the Gaza war erupted last October, escalated dramatically on Monday. Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon killed more than 550 people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, making it the deadliest day since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The strikes followed coordinated explosions of communication devices earlier in the week, which killed 39 people and injured thousands. On Friday, a separate Israeli strike on southern Beirut claimed the life of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil.