The Israeli military says it has struck Beirut, targeting a senior Hezbollah commander allegedly behind the deaths of 12 youths in Golan Heights.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Israeli military has said it's struck the Lebanese capital of Beirut, targeting the militant commander allegedly behind the deaths of 12 children and teens. At least one person has been killed, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
The news outlet reported that the strike, carried out with a drone that launched three rockets, killed one woman and wounded several other people, some of them seriously. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals. Bahman Hospital near the site of the blast called on people to donate blood.
The airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik damaged several buildings, but it was not immediately clear if any Hezbollah official was hit.
"The IDF carried out a targeted strike in Beirut, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians," the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement.
The strike comes days after a rocket strike from Lebanon killed the 12 youths. Israel blames the Hezbollah militant group, which has denied any role in the attack.
Lebanon's state-run national news agency said the Israeli strike targeted the area around Hezbollah's Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut.
The cause of the explosion is not immediately clear, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously vowed a 'severe response' to the Golan Heights attack.
The US has reportedly urged Israel to avoid targeting Beirut, the Lebanese capital, and civilian infrastructure to prevent collateral damage.
Meanwhile, tensions remained high in Israel as soldiers were due to appear before a military court Tuesday over what a defence lawyer said were allegations of sexual abuse of a Palestinian at a facility where Israel has held prisoners from Gaza during the war.
More bodies and further destruction were found after Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Khan Younis in Gaza. The territory's Health Ministry says over 39,300 people have been killed since Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel sparked the war.