Israeli strikes kill 22 in Beirut as Hezoballah leader escapes assassination

BEIRUT: Israeli strikes killed 22 people and injured more than 100 in central Beirut on Thursday (October 10), Lebanese authorities announced, as a senior Hezbollah official escaped an Israeli assassination attempt in the city, according to three security sources.

In the south of the country, two United Nations peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired on a watchtower at the force’s main headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, prompting the The UN said its personnel were facing increasing danger.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted a year ago when the Iran-backed group opened fire in support of the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

This situation has intensified considerably in recent weeks, with Israeli bombing of Beirut’s southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa Valley, killing many Hezbollah leaders.

Wafiq Safa, who heads Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit responsible for working with Lebanese security agencies, was targeted by Israel on Thursday evening but survived, security sources said.

The Israeli strikes hit a densely populated residential area of ​​apartment buildings and small businesses in the heart of Beirut.

Israel did not issue an evacuation warning before the strikes and had not yet attacked the area, located away from the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah’s headquarters was repeatedly bombed by Israel.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 22 deaths and 117 injured. Among the dead was a family of eight people, including three children, who had been evacuated from the south, according to a security source.

Reuters witnesses said at least one strike took place near a gas station and a thick column of smoke was visible. A large fire broke out in the background as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors, according to video broadcast by Hezbollah’s al-Manar television.

There was no immediate comment on the incident from Israel.