Israel launches targeted attack on Beirut, killing multiple people in southern area

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Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have resulted in casualties in several areas, including Beirut and southern Lebanon. On Friday, an Israeli strike hit a car in Jnah, a coastal neighborhood in southwestern Beirut, killing one person. Another strike targeted an apartment in the Nabaa neighborhood, leaving it engulfed in flames without immediate casualties.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 687 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the past two weeks, including 98 children. Over 800,000 people have also been displaced due to these attacks.

The Israeli military claimed that its target was a Hezbollah member in Beirut, stating that they were targeting cash reserves believed to be located in the basement of some buildings. The strikes occurred in areas far from the southern suburbs of Beirut, which have been declared unsafe and are subject to forced displacement threats.

In addition to Beirut, Israeli forces continued to bombard southern Lebanon and other parts of the country. Casualties were reported in several towns, including Arki near Sidon, Ain Ebel, Barish, and Bar Elias. An ambulance was also hit in the Tayr Felsay area.

The United Nations has issued statements condemning the ongoing military assaults on Iran and Lebanon by the United States and Israel. Qatar also condemned Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, describing them as a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law”.

Israeli officials have been critical of the Lebanese government’s response to the conflict, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating that if the government does not confront Hezbollah, Israel will control Lebanese territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also warned that the Lebanese government is playing with fire if it does not take action against Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stated that his government is committed to reclaiming state sovereignty, but faces challenges in enforcing this during a war. The country’s army chief, Rodolphe Haykal, has also faced criticism for stating that confronting Hezbollah could lead to sectarian divisions.

Source: Al Jazeera