Israel's military announced on Thursday that it had targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Beirut, as its forces engaged in clashes with militants near the border and warplanes continued to strike strongholds across Lebanon.
This week, Israel revealed that its troops had initiated 'ground raids' into southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, following days of intense bombardment in areas controlled by the group. The Israeli military confirmed it had struck 'targets associated with Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Beirut.'
Lebanon's National News Agency reported three air strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with a source close to Hezbollah informing AFP that the target was an abandoned building used by the group's media relations office.
Israel urged Lebanese residents to evacuate over 20 villages and the city of Nabatiyeh, advising them to move north of the Awali River for their safety. 'For your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Awali River. Save your lives,' army spokesman Avichay Adraee stated on X.
Hezbollah claimed it repelled an Israeli attempt to advance at Fatima's Gate on the border and detonated two explosive devices against advancing Israeli forces while maintaining cross-border rocket fire.
The Israeli military reported that an overnight strike killed 15 Hezbollah fighters in Bint Jbeil, an area significantly damaged during Israel's last conflict with the militant group in 2006. Subsequently, the Lebanese army reported that one of its soldiers was killed when 'the Israeli enemy targeted an army post in the Bint Jbeil area,' marking the third death among its troops in the current escalation, prompting retaliatory fire.
A Lebanese military official noted that this was the army's first response to Israeli fire since last October. Earlier, Israel conducted a deadly air raid in downtown Beirut, targeting an emergency services rescue facility operated by Hezbollah, resulting in the death of seven workers, according to the service.
Hassan Ammar, an 82-year-old resident who had fled to the high-rise building partially destroyed by the strike, commented, 'We are peaceful civilians in our homes.' Israel has yet to comment on the strike but stated it had hit approximately 200 Hezbollah targets 'in Lebanese territory.'
Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that more than 40 rescuers and firefighters have been killed by Israeli fire over the past three days.
