Israel Strikes Hezbollah Headquarters in Beirut Amid Escalating Conflict
In a significant escalation of hostilities, the Israeli military struck Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday evening, unleashing a series of massive explosions that leveled high-rise apartment buildings and targeted the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes, described as the most severe to hit the Lebanese capital in the past year, are expected to push the simmering conflict closer to all-out war.
Death Toll and Destruction
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least two people were killed, with dozens more wounded as a result of the strikes. The explosions rocked the Haret Hreik district, a predominantly Shiite area in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs, reducing six apartment towers to rubble. The impact of the blasts could be felt nearly 30 kilometers away, rattling windows and shaking homes far from the city center.
Rescue workers continued to search for survivors among the wreckage, with 76 wounded accounted for, though the toll is expected to rise as more people are uncovered from the debris. Footage from the scene depicted desperate rescue efforts as residents fled the area, clutching their belongings while navigating streets choked with twisted metal and debris.
Nasrallah Targeted in Strike
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly the primary target of the Israeli airstrikes, according to unnamed sources, including a U.S. official. However, it remains unclear whether Nasrallah was present at the site of the attack. Hezbollah has not confirmed the report, and Israeli officials have declined to comment.
The site hit was located in Hezbollah’s “security quarters,” a heavily fortified area of Haret Hreik where the group maintains offices and runs hospitals. The strike on Nasrallah, if confirmed, would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, signaling Israel’s intent to eliminate Hezbollah’s leadership. Nasrallah has lived in hiding for years, rarely appearing in public, and has delivered speeches via video from undisclosed locations.
Netanyahu Cuts Short U.S. Visit
News of the attack broke just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefing reporters following his address to the United Nations. Netanyahu, who had vowed to continue Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, abruptly cut short his trip to return to Israel. “We will not cease our operations until our goals are met,” he declared in his U.N. address, referencing ongoing military actions.
Israeli military officials confirmed that the strikes targeted Hezbollah’s underground headquarters, located beneath residential buildings in the heart of Beirut. Israel’s ongoing campaign aims to degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities, with a specific focus on senior leadership.
Hezbollah’s Retaliation and Rising Tensions
In response to the strikes, Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets at the Israeli city of Safed, which the group described as an act of defense against Israeli “barbaric violations.” The Israeli military confirmed the attack, noting that a house and vehicle were struck. However, no details of casualties were provided.
Hezbollah’s actions come after weeks of heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The Israeli military has been intensifying its operations against Hezbollah following 11 months of rocket fire from the militant group. In recent weeks, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 720 people in Lebanon, according to local health officials, many of them civilians. Israel has not ruled out a ground invasion, with thousands of troops already moved to the border in preparation.
International Diplomatic Efforts Falter
Despite international calls for a cease-fire, including efforts by the U.S. to broker a truce, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Netanyahu’s firm stance at the U.N. dampened hopes for a U.S.-backed 21-day cease-fire agreement allowing diplomatic negotiations.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict began in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, with the group citing its support for Palestinians as the justification for its rocket fire. Since then, the Israeli and Hezbollah forces have exchanged fire almost daily, causing massive displacements on both sides of the border.
As the conflict escalates, concerns mount over the potential for the violence to spread throughout the region. Israel’s campaign in Lebanon is narrower in scope than its war in Gaza, with a primary goal of pushing Hezbollah away from its northern border. However, the devastation in Lebanon, particularly in densely populated areas like Beirut, has further deepened tensions, with both sides showing little willingness to back down.
The path forward remains uncertain, but with both Israel and Hezbollah entrenched in their positions, the prospect of a prolonged conflict looms ever larger.