The southern suburbs of Beirut after Israeli shelling of Hezbollah targets / Photo: Sylvain Rostaing / Le Pictorium / imago stock&people / Profimedia
On Thursday night, Israel carried out a series of powerful airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut, which are the stronghold of the Shiite group Hezbollah. This was reported by an anonymous source close to the organisation, and confirmed by AFP correspondents who heard numerous explosions in the Lebanese capital.
According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, one of the airstrikes could have targeted Hashem Safiyeddin, who is considered a possible successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last week.
“Israel carried out 11 consecutive strikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut,” the source said. The intensity of the bombardment was so high that car alarms went off and buildings in Beirut and the surrounding area shook.
The Israeli army said on Thursday that it would continue “intense strikes” against Hezbollah positions after a three-day ground confrontation with the group in southern Lebanon that left nine Israeli soldiers dead.
Thursday’s attacks were focused mainly on Beirut and its southern suburbs, including a strike on Hezbollah’s “general intelligence headquarters” located near the capital.
According to the Israeli military, 15 Hezbollah targets were hit, including weapons depots and production sites. Journalist Barak Ravid claims that one of the targets of the air strikes was Hashem Safiyeddin, who is considered a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah.
A week ago, Israel launched a strike that killed the current leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, which was a heavy blow to the group.
