October 3, 2024: An Israeli airstrike late Wednesday on an apartment building in central Beirut resulted in the deaths of seven members of Hezbollah's civil defense unit. The attack, which occurred in a densely populated area close to key government buildings, marks a significant escalation in Israel's military operations in Lebanon, which have intensified since late September.
The strike drew immediate condemnation, as it lacked any prior warning. Hezbollah confirmed that the deceased were first responders affiliated with the group, which has both military and civilian components, including a network of charities.
In a related development, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for villages and towns in southern Lebanon that lie north of a United Nations-declared buffer zone, signaling a potential expansion of its ground operations. The ongoing clashes in this region have resulted in the deaths of at least eight Israeli soldiers, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) engage in what they describe as a limited ground incursion against Hezbollah.
Residents near the site of the Beirut strike reported a strange sulfur-like odor, and Lebanon's state-run National News Agency accused Israel of deploying phosphorus bombs, although no evidence was provided. Human rights organizations have previously raised concerns about Israel's use of incendiary weapons in the region.
The conflict has intensified amid fears of a wider confrontation, as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced they launched drones toward Tel Aviv, with one intercepted and the other falling harmlessly into the Mediterranean Sea.
This escalation in violence follows nearly a year of conflict that began with a surprise attack by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Israel's military operations in Lebanon have reportedly targeted numerous Hezbollah installations, resulting in over 1,276 fatalities since mid-September, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Amid these developments, the IDF stated that it has conducted airstrikes on around 200 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including weapons depots and observation posts, claiming the elimination of at least 15 Hezbollah fighters.