The Israeli army launched new strikes on southern Lebanon and in central Beirut. For the first time in a year, the Lebanese army responded to Israeli fire.
Israel claims to have struck Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, while continuing to strike targets in the Lebanese capital.
“The Intelligence Corps is Hezbollah’s primary intelligence arm and is responsible for gathering intelligence on the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel.l,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement justifying the attack.
This attack follows an attack on an apartment building in central Beirut, which left nine people dead on Wednesday, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
The Israeli army said the attack, which had no prior warning, targeted a building housing a medical center affiliated with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s civil defense unit said seven of its members were killed in the attack, which hit a building near the United Nations headquarters, the prime minister’s office and parliament.
Israeli army targets Beirut
Although Israel has bombed areas of the country where the Hezbollah militant group has a strong presence since late September, it has rarely struck at the heart of Beirut.
The strikes come as Israel carries out a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah, supported by Iran. For the first time in a year the Lebanese army responded to Israeli fire.
At least eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israel announced the start of a limited ground incursion earlier this week. Meanwhile, the region has braced for Israeli retaliation following an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
Israel has asked people to leave Nabatiyeh, the provincial capital, and other towns north of the Litani River, which forms the northern limit of the border zone established by the UN Security Council after the 2006 war between both parties. Each party accuses the other of violating
Red Cross rescue workers killed
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, an Israeli strike injured four rescue workers and killed a Lebanese army soldier as they evacuated wounded people from the south of the country.
The World Health Organization announced that 28 health workers were killed over the past day in Lebanon. The announcement of these deaths comes after the closure of three dozen health establishments in the south of the country and the partial or total evacuation of five hospitals in Beirut.
Israeli strikes affecting health facilities and personnel violate international law and international treaties, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said.
The humanitarian organization added that the convoy near the village of Taybeh, which was accompanied by Lebanese troops, was targeted on Thursday while coordinating its movements with UN peacekeeping forces. The Israeli army had no immediate comment.
According to Health Minister Firass Abiad, Israeli bombings have left at least 1,974 dead, including 127 children, and 9,384 injured since the bombing of Lebanon began.
