In the early hours of Friday, October 4, 2024, a series of intense Israeli airstrikes hit areas south of Beirut, including the vicinity of Beirut's international airport. These strikes were part of a broader escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group.
The airstrikes, which occurred around midnight on Thursday, targeted a meeting of senior Hezbollah leadership. According to reports from Axios and the New York Times, the Israeli military was aiming to hit Hashem Safieddine, who is rumored to be the successor to Hassan Nasrallah, the current leader of Hezbollah. However, the fate of Safieddine remains unclear.
Explosions Near Beirut Airport
The explosions near Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport were captured in live footage, showing a bright flash illuminating the sky followed by multiple loud detonations. These blasts occurred just minutes after a plane from Dubai landed at the airport. The explosions were visible from Sin El Fil, approximately 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) northwest of the airport.
The strikes also hit a warehouse next to the airport and targeted areas in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a stronghold of Hezbollah. The extent of the damage from these strikes is still being assessed.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon. According to WHO, 28 health workers were killed in the past day, and access to medical care is becoming increasingly limited. Three dozen health facilities in the south have closed, and five hospitals in Beirut were either partly or fully evacuated. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that health workers are fleeing bombed areas, and plans to fly in medical supplies were scrapped due to the closure of Beirut's international airport.
Lebanon's health minister condemned the Israeli strikes on hospitals and healthcare centers, stating they violate international law. The Lebanese Red Cross reported that an Israeli strike wounded four of its paramedics and killed a Lebanese army soldier while they were evacuating wounded people from the south, despite coordinating their movements with UN peacekeepers.
Broader Conflict and International Response
The conflict has also seen significant escalation in other regions, with Israel carrying out its deadliest air raid in the West Bank since 2000. The US is reportedly discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil sites, further complicating the regional situation.
The ongoing conflict has led to a significant displacement of people, with UNICEF reporting that over 300,000 children have been displaced in Lebanon due to the war. The World Food Programme (WFP) has initiated an emergency food campaign to support those affected by the conflict.
The situation in Lebanon is part of a broader geopolitical landscape involving Hezbollah, Israel, and other regional actors, highlighting the complex and volatile nature of the Middle East conflict.
