Massive explosions hit areas near Beirut’s airport following Israeli airstrikes, according to the BBC. The strikes targeted locations around Dahieh, which is Hezbollah’s main base in the capital. The blasts created large smoke clouds that could be seen at sunrise.
Lebanon’s health ministry said 37 people died and 151 were hurt in Israeli attacks over the past day. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said two of its soldiers were killed in the south as Israeli forces pushed further into the country, asking about 20 towns and villages to evacuate for safety.
The Israeli army hasn’t made an official comment, but it did confirm killing Hezbollah fighters near the border. Hezbollah responded by claiming they had hit Israeli troops on both sides of the border. According to the BBC, this comes after intense fighting as Israeli troops continue their invasion.
The situation in Lebanon is dire. The World Food Programme’s country director, Matthew Hollingworth, told the BBC that smoke from bombings fills the sky in Beirut daily.
Many people have fled their homes in the south, crowding the city with traffic and leaving people sleeping outside in makeshift shelters. A large portion of those displaced, according to the International Rescue Committee, are children under 15.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hit over 200 Hezbollah targets, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts, killing at least 15 Hezbollah fighters.
This follows weeks of cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, triggered by last year’s war in Gaza. Over 1,300 people have died in Lebanon due to these attacks, and more than a million have fled, according to local authorities, as reported by the BBC.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues launching rockets into northern Israel. Dean Sweetland, a resident near the border, told the BBC that rocket fire from Hezbollah shakes his home several times a day.
He shared the fear that many face as the conflict drags on, stating that living under this constant threat can’t continue for another year.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17lpydd842o