Israeli Airstrikes in Beirut Kill 5 as Rocket Attacks Continue

Israel's recent airstrikes in central Beirut on Monday resulted in the deaths of five people, according to Lebanon's health ministry. This incident follows rocket fire from Lebanon that killed a woman in Israel, as reported by local firefighters.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Hamas-run interior ministry announced that 20 individuals lost their lives in an operation aimed at stopping the theft of humanitarian aid from trucks in the besieged region.

Rising Tensions in Lebanon Israel has been carrying out multiple airstrikes in Beirut over the past few days, particularly focusing on areas associated with Hezbollah. These strikes come after a series of air raids aimed at evacuating Hezbollah's southern stronghold. The intensified Israeli campaign against Hezbollah began in September, with a stated objective of securing its northern border so that Israeli residents displaced by cross-border fire can return home.

On Monday, the health ministry in Lebanon confirmed five fatalities and 31 injuries in the Zuqaq al-Blat district following an Israeli airstrike. This area has seen a significant influx of people fleeing southern Beirut, making it densely populated. The country's official news outlet reported that an apartment near a Shiite place of worship was hit, causing extensive damage.

Further, an Israeli strike on Tuesday destroyed a four-storey building in Chiyah, leaving several people wounded. A series of Israeli attacks around central Beirut on Sunday resulted in at least 10 deaths, including Hezbollah spokesperson Mohammed Afif and four members of his media team.

Hezbollah's Response The most recent casualty among Hezbollah’s ranks is Mohammed Afif, a senior official, who was killed amid ongoing Israeli strikes. The group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, died in September during attacks in southern Beirut.

The Israeli military reported on Monday that Hezbollah had fired roughly 100 projectiles into northern Israel, some of which were intercepted by the country’s air defenses. One of these rockets hit a building in Shfaram, a town east of the Haifa region, killing a woman and injuring 10 others.

Rocket fire also reached Tel Aviv, Israel’s major commercial hub, where five individuals were injured, one seriously. In retaliation, Hezbollah claimed to have launched drones targeting sensitive military sites in Tel Aviv and shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, the group also fired rockets at Kiryat Shmona, a northern Israeli town.

Broader Regional Impact An alliance of pro-Iran factions, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, announced on Tuesday that it had used a drone to strike a "significant target" in southern Israel. Following nearly a year of periodic cross-border skirmishes, Israel's military focus has expanded from Gaza to Lebanon, with Hezbollah affirming that these actions are in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

Lebanese officials report over 3,510 deaths since October of the previous year, with the majority occurring since September. In Beirut, the Israeli strikes led to a temporary closure of educational institutions in the area.

Lebanon’s government appears to be in favor of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. A Lebanese official indicated that they were finalizing their feedback before communicating with Washington. U.S. Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to visit the region for further discussions this week.

In response to these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed parliament on Monday, stating that even if an agreement is reached, Israel would continue operations against Hezbollah to prevent the group from rebuilding its capabilities.

Situation in Gaza Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Gaza, where Hamas has implemented measures to combat the looting of aid supplies. Following an attack on a convoy of over 100 UN food trucks last Saturday, a security operation targeted "gangs" involved in stealing aid. According to the Gaza interior ministry, over 20 individuals were killed during the crackdown, and authorities warned that similar operations could occur in the future if needed.

Israel has maintained its military campaign in southern Gaza as a response to Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023. A recent airstrike in the Al-Mawasi region, an area designated as a "safe zone" by Israel, led to the deaths of four family members who were seeking shelter in a tent. A grieving relative, Al-Baraa Abu al-Hasan, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his loved ones.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that the conflict has resulted in a death toll of 43,922 over 13 months, with the majority being civilians. The United Nations has verified these figures.

Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel led to the deaths of 1,206 people, predominantly civilians, according to an Israeli tally.

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