Beirut/Jerusalem: Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of 22 people and injured over 100 in central Beirut on Thursday, according to Lebanese officials. The strikes occurred amid an Israeli assassination attempt on a senior Hezbollah official, Wafiq Safa, who heads the group’s liaison and coordination unit. Safa managed to survive the attack, as reported by three security sources.
In southern Lebanon, two United Nations peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank targeted a watchtower near the peacekeeping force’s main base in Ras al-Naqoura. The U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, later condemned the attack, stating that its personnel are facing increasing threats.
Escalating Conflict
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated dramatically in recent weeks. It began one year ago when Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, fired in support of Hamas at the onset of the Gaza war. Since then, Israeli forces have intensified their bombing campaigns across Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, killing numerous Hezbollah leaders.
Wafiq Safa’s survival marks a significant moment in the widening scope of Israel’s targets within Hezbollah. Safa, whose role involves coordinating with Lebanese security forces, had become one of the few remaining high-ranking officials after a series of Israeli strikes killed top Hezbollah figures, including leader Hassan Nasrallah.
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Beirut Airstrikes
Thursday’s airstrikes hit a densely populated area of Beirut, which had not previously been targeted by Israeli forces. Rescue workers sifted through the rubble of destroyed residential buildings and shops, searching for survivors. A gas station was reportedly hit, causing a fire, according to eyewitness reports broadcast on Hezbollah’s al-Manar television network.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed the deaths of 22 people and said 117 others were injured. Among the casualties was a family of eight, including three children, who had evacuated from southern Lebanon.
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UNIFIL Under Fire
UNIFIL stated that two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at their watchtower in Ras al-Naqoura. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi later confirmed that the two were treated for minor injuries and were in stable condition.
UNIFIL’s operations in Lebanon have nearly come to a standstill since late September due to heightened conflict, and U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned that the safety of over 10,400 peacekeepers in the region is at risk. The U.N. condemned the attack on its personnel as a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
Israel’s military acknowledged that its forces had operated near the UNIFIL base in Naqoura and said the U.N. forces had been instructed to stay in protected spaces. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon suggested that UNIFIL relocate further north to avoid the risk of being caught in the fighting.
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Global Reactions
The White House expressed concern over the incident, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called for de-escalation. Harris, while speaking about the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, emphasized the need for a ceasefire but acknowledged that achieving one remains a challenge.
Over the last year, Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,169 people in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese government, with a sharp increase in casualties since the end of September. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks on Israel have killed 53 people, more than half of them civilians, Israeli officials said.
