Israeli Strikes Hit Tyre, Lebanon, Killing 3 in Nearby Maarakeh
Israeli airstrikes hit multiple buildings in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on Wednesday, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky, The Associated Press reports.
The strikes came after Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, launched another barrage of rockets into Israel, including two that set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv before being intercepted.
The state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli strike on the nearby town of Maarakeh killed three people. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Tyre, where the Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings prior to the strikes.
The Israeli military said Tuesday that one of its airstrikes in recent weeks killed Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah leader and cleric who was widely expected to succeed the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah himself was killed in an Israeli strike last month, sparking an all-out war in Lebanon.
The strikes in Tyre mark a significant escalation in the conflict, as the ancient city, known for its pristine beaches, ancient harbor, and Roman ruins, had largely been spared until recently. The buildings struck were located near several heritage sites, including the hippodrome and a cluster of seaside sites associated with the ancient Phoenicians and Crusaders.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for dozens of buildings in the heart of Tyre, urging residents to move north of the Awali River, dozens of kilometers away.
