Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential complex in the Leylaki neighbourhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on October 23. Photo: AFP
Israel launched a series of air strikes on Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut on Wednesday night, according to Lebanese state media, as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict reached its one-month milestone. With six buildings reduced to rubble in at least 17 Israeli raids, these strikes represent one of the most intense nights in the capital's southern suburbs since the war began on September 23.
Meanwhile, Syria's state media reported Israeli air strikes on a residential building in Damascus and a military site in Homs, resulting in the death of a soldier and wounding seven others. These raids occurred after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Israel, advised the US ally to avoid further escalation with Iran.
Israel is currently engaged in conflicts with Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and has pledged to retaliate against Iran for an October 1 missile attack. In Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported at least 17 Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, describing the raids as "the most violent in the area since the start of the war". Six buildings were destroyed around the Laylaki suburb, including a residential complex hit by four Israeli strikes, causing a large fire.
AFPTV footage captured a massive explosion followed by smaller blasts in the embattled suburb after the Israeli army issued an Arabic-language evacuation warning for the area, where Hezbollah holds significant influence. However, there was no warning for a strike that hit the Jnah neighbourhood in southern Beirut, resulting in one death and five injuries, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes devastated Tyre, leaving large parts of the city center in ruins and prompting a new wave of evacuations from the once bustling coastal city. "The whole city shook," said resident Rana, who fled to the seafront after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning. Bilal Kashmar of Tyre's disaster management unit reported that seven buildings were leveled and more than 400 apartments were damaged.
Black smoke was visible rising from several neighbourhoods, with some areas just 500 meters from the city's ancient ruins. UNESCO stated it was "closely monitoring" the conflict's impact on Tyre's World Heritage site.
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