22 Dead, Over 130 Injured As Israel Strikes Beirut City Centre Without Warning

Israeli forces struck a U.N. peacekeepers’ watchtower in southern Lebanon on Friday, injuring two personnel, marking the third consecutive day of Israeli fire on U.N. positions, according to a U.N. source. The strikes come as Israel continues its offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, has renewed his calls for a ceasefire after a separate Israeli airstrike in Beirut late Thursday killed 22 civilians and wounded 139 others. The strike targeted senior Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa, who survived the attack, according to three security sources.

The incident marks the third airstrike on Beirut since Israel escalated its military operations on September 23.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted a year ago when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Hamas during the Gaza war, has escalated sharply in recent weeks.

Israeli forces have been bombing Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, killing several high-ranking Hezbollah leaders. In response, Hezbollah has been firing rockets deeper into Israel, as the conflict rages on.

At Makassed hospital in Beirut, medical staff described the devastating scene after Thursday’s strike. Wael al-Jaroush, head of the hospital’s medical department, said, “We received three martyrs … in pieces. This is the first time we’ve seen such a large number of injured from a strike in Beirut.”

Among the victims was a family of eight, including three children, who had fled southern Lebanon for safety, according to a security source.

Safa, the apparent target of the airstrike, plays a significant political and security role within Hezbollah, suggesting Israel is expanding its focus to Hezbollah leadership beyond military commanders.

In northern Israel, a Thai worker was killed by munitions fired from Lebanese territory, while the Israeli military reported the killing of a Hezbollah commander responsible for anti-tank missile attacks on Ramot Naftali. Hezbollah has not commented on the incident.

As the conflict intensifies, both sides continue to exchange fire, raising concerns of further civilian casualties and regional instability.

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