War in the Middle East: New air strikes in suburbs south of Beirut

The Israeli army is attacking further targets in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut. A reporter from the German Press Agency counted at least four air strikes and reported clouds of black smoke after the explosions. After an evacuation request from the Israeli army, some residents fired shots to warn of the impending attacks, and many then fled the area. The state news agency NNA reported at least six attacks.

Israel’s army asked residents to evacuate shortly before the attacks. “They are close to Hezbollah facilities and interests,” an army spokesman said. Residents should stay at least 500 meters away from buildings marked in red on an Israeli army map.

Israel’s army said it had launched air strikes on Hezbollah weapons depots and command centers in the suburbs known as Dahija. The Iran-backed Shiite organization has “systematically embedded its terrorist infrastructure in the Lebanese civilian population.” The military attacked around 30 targets in the area within 48 hours. Israel’s army reiterated that it had made efforts to protect the civilian population in Lebanon before each attack.

Israel’s military also continued attacks in the south. According to Lebanese figures, more than 3,300 people have been killed and 14,300 injured in the war with Hezbollah. According to Israeli figures, more than 70 people have been killed in the north of the country by shelling from Lebanon since the war began, most of them civilians.