Massive Israeli Airstrikes Rock Beirut, Shut Down Key Syria Crossing
Israel launched a series of massive airstrikes overnight in southern Beirut and near the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, further escalating the yearlong conflict with Hezbollah, The Associated Press reports.
The strikes came after Israel warned civilians to evacuate areas outside a UN-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
The airstrikes, which rocked southern Beirut’s suburbs and sent plumes of smoke and flames into the night sky, were reportedly carried out in retaliation for Hezbollah’s alleged attempts to transport military equipment through the Masnaa border crossing. Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the strikes, and there was no immediate information on casualties.
The airstrike at the Masnaa crossing, the busiest border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, effectively closed the route for tens of thousands of people fleeing the war in Lebanon who had been crossing into Syria over the past two weeks.
The escalation in violence follows Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon on Tuesday, where Israeli forces have been engaged in clashes with Hezbollah militants along the border. The incursion came after a series of Israeli attacks that killed several key members of Hezbollah, including its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer, has been drawn further into the conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut on Friday to discuss the war with Lebanese officials. His visit came just days after Iran launched a barrage of missiles into Israel, the latest in a series of escalating attacks between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies.
Meanwhile, violence continues in the Israeli-occupied territory, particularly in Tulkarem and other northern cities, since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023. Israel declared war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip following their October 7 attack, leading to the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, including over 20,000 women and children, according to local health officials. The conflict has also claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 people in Lebanon, most of them since September 23.
