In a dramatic turn of events, senior Hezbollah leader Wafiq Safa has survived an assassination attempt during Israeli airstrikes in Beirut. The strikes, which targeted central Beirut, resulted in the deaths of 22 people and left many more injured. This escalation marks a significant shift in Israel's military operations, as previous airstrikes had primarily focused on Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Wafiq Safa, born in 1960, has been a central figure in Hezbollah for decades. He is known for his involvement in the group's political and military activities. Safa's most high-profile role came in 2008 when he facilitated a landmark prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel. Under his supervision, Hezbollah returned the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, an event that followed the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Safa has also been active in domestic Lebanese politics. In 2021, reports surfaced that he had allegedly warned the judge investigating the devastating Beirut port explosion, pressing the judge to halt inquiries involving Hezbollah-aligned politicians. His survival of Thursdays airstrikes is seen as another escalation in Israels ongoing efforts to target key Hezbollah operatives.
The Israeli Strikes: A New Front in the Conflict
Thursdays attack marked a notable shift in Israels operations. While previous airstrikes had primarily focused on Hezbollahs stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, this latest offensive struck more central areas of the capital, including Al Nuwairi, Ras el-Nabaa, and the Basta neighborhood. Medical sources indicated that the full scope of casualties was still being assessed as rescue operations continued in the aftermath of the strikes.
Lebanons health authorities fear the death toll could rise, given the extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure in these densely populated neighborhoods. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as ambulances struggled to reach the worst-hit areas, and several apartment blocks were reduced to rubble.
The Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated, Hezbollah has been preparing these areas to launch attacks on Israeli cities. Each house in these villages is set up to serve as a launch pad for operations against Israel. This statement underscores the escalating nature of the conflict and Israels determination to disrupt Hezbollahs military capabilities.
The ongoing raids have displaced large numbers of civilians, with UN estimates suggesting that over 600,000 people have fled southern Lebanon since the conflict intensified. Despite the increasing danger, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remains deployed in the region. However, concerns about the safety of UN personnel have grown after two peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank shelled a watchtower at a UNIFIL base.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN peacekeeping, expressed deep concern over the attacks on UN forces, stating, The safety of our personnel is paramount, and any attacks on peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law. This underscores the critical role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability in the region and highlights the need for all parties to respect international law.
Hezbollahs Response: Rocket Attacks on Israel
In response to Israeli airstrikes and raids, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks on northern Israel. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), more than 50 rockets were fired on Thursday, targeting communities near the Lebanese border. Alarms sounded in several northern Israeli cities, although no casualties were reported.
The IDFs Home Front Command issued updated guidelines for Israeli citizens in northern areas, easing some restrictions but continuing to limit educational activities to bomb shelters due to the ongoing threat of rocket attacks. Israeli forces also intercepted an unmanned aircraft and a drone that had crossed into Israeli airspace from Lebanon.
Civilian Safety and Evacuation Warnings
Israeli military officials issued evacuation warnings for residents of buildings in Beiruts southern suburbs that are believed to be linked to Hezbollah. Civilians were urged to move at least 500 meters away from any Hezbollah-controlled sites, as further airstrikes were anticipated. Additionally, the IDF has repeatedly called on residents of southern Lebanon to avoid returning to their homes amid the intensifying conflict.
UNIFIL, which has more than 10,400 personnel stationed in southern Lebanon, has been at the center of growing safety concerns as the conflict rages on. In response to the attack on its peacekeepers, the UN stated, We urge all parties to take measures to protect civilians and ensure the safety of peacekeepers. Meanwhile, the White House has called on Israel to provide details regarding the incident involving UN personnel, with US officials reiterating their commitment to protecting peacekeeping forces in volatile regions.
Background on Wafiq Safa
Wafiq Safa has been a key figure in Hezbollah for decades. His role within the organization extends beyond military activities; he has also been involved in domestic Lebanese politics. In 2021, reports surfaced that he had allegedly warned the judge investigating the devastating Beirut port explosion, pressing the judge to halt inquiries involving Hezbollah-aligned politicians.
Safa's survival of Thursdays airstrikes is seen as another escalation in Israels ongoing efforts to target key Hezbollah operatives. The US Treasury blacklisted Safa in 2019, stating he maintained Hezbollah's ties to financiers and allegedly helped arrange weapons and drugs smuggling.
Safa was close to Hezbollah's late leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike on south Beirut last month. This latest attack on Safa underscores Israel's determination to disrupt Hezbollah's leadership and military capabilities.
The Israel-Hezbollah War: A Broader Context
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since September 23, when Israel intensified strikes on Hezbollah strongholds. This escalation has resulted in over 1,200 deaths and displaced more than a million people, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures.
The war was sparked by Hezbollah's cross-border fire into Israel in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, following the October 7, 2023 attack, the worst in Israel's history. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring back the hostages seized by militants on October 7.
More recently, with Hamas weakened but not crushed in Gaza, Netanyahu promised to secure Israel's northern border with Lebanon to allow tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from their homes by Hezbollah's cross-border fire to return.
Lebanon, deep in political and economic crisis for years, has seen the power and influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah become ever more entrenched in the Mediterranean country. A stark symbol of this failure is the Beirut port explosion of 2020, which killed more than 200 people and for which there has been no justice to date.
In 2021, a leaked message from a Hezbollah officialwidely believed to be Safathreatened to remove the judge investigating the catastrophic blast. This highlights the complex web of political and military activities within Lebanon and underscores the need for international intervention to stabilize the region.
The role of UN peacekeepers stationed at Lebanons border has also come into focus in the latest escalation, particularly following its accusation against Israeli forces of repeatedly targeting its positions and wounding two of its members on Thursday.
Lebanon condemned an Israeli attack that it said wounded United Nations peacekeepers in the country's south after state media reported a second such attack in as many days. On Thursday, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said Israeli fire on their headquarters in south Lebanon left two Blue Helmets injured.
Residents described scenes of chaos as ambulances struggled to reach the worst-hit areas. People were seen scouring the rubble, checking their homes and asking for news of neighbors. One resident, Bilal Othman, lamented, Do they (Israel) want to tell us there is no safe place left in this country?
Othman's plea underscores the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Lebanon. The conflict has left families displaced and communities devastated. The international community must intervene to protect civilians and ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
In conclusion, Wafiq Safas survival of the assassination attempt highlights the ongoing and escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon demands immediate attention from the international community to prevent further suffering and ensure stability in the region.
