An Israeli air strike killed at least 22 people in central Beirut on Thursday, with Israeli ground troops also accused of firing on the UN’s peacekeeping headquarters in Lebanon, injuring two Blue Helmets. Lebanon’s health ministry updated the death toll to 22 people and reported 117 injured.
A Lebanese security source stated that a “Hezbollah figure” was targeted in the attack. Most Israeli strikes have been focused on south Beirut, not the city center. The UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon accused Israeli soldiers of repeatedly firing on their positions on the same day.
Israel has been conducting an intensified campaign against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, with over 1,200 people killed and more than a million displaced. Israeli ground forces also crossed into Lebanon to stop Hezbollah’s cross-border fire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight until Israeli residents can return to their homes near the border.
The ongoing operation in Lebanon is a second front for Israel, as they continue to battle Hamas Palestinian militants in Gaza. Reports of strikes on a school building used as a shelter for displaced people in Gaza have raised concerns about humanitarian laws being violated. The UN has accused Israel of targeting health facilities and killing medical personnel.
Israel faces heightened tensions with Iran after a missile attack last week, prompting warnings of a potential Israeli attack on Iran. Prime Minister Yoav Gallant of Israel has warned that any strikes on Iran would be “deadly, precise, and surprising.” The situation remains tense with concerns about potential economic and military consequences for both countries.
