The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a targeted airstrike in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Friday, according to an official statement from the Israeli military.
The brief announcement confirmed that the strike was carried out but provided no further details.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing three powerful explosions in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area known for being a stronghold of Hezbollah. Israeli fighter jets were seen flying over the city following the airstrike, heightening the tension in the area.
Witnesses described significant damage to residential buildings, with large plumes of smoke rising from the affected areas.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the airstrike was conducted by an Israeli F-35 fighter jet, which launched two missiles targeting an apartment in the Jamous neighborhood of southern Beirut.
This attack comes amidst a surge in violence, following a major incident on September 17-18, when a coordinated explosion of thousands of paging and wireless communication devices caused widespread chaos in Lebanon.
The official death toll from that attack stands at 37, with around 3,000 injured. While the exact method behind the simultaneous explosions remains unclear, both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have accused Israel of orchestrating the attack. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
The situation in Lebanon has been escalating since late July, when an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut killed senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Hezbollah retaliated by targeting the Israeli military’s Unit 8200 headquarters at the Margaliot base. Diplomatic efforts, including those led by US envoy Amos Hochstein, have so far failed to de-escalate the conflict.
