The Israeli army said it had struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut. It also claimed that its operational capabilities were not affected following Iran’s missile attack.
Explosions were heard in Beirut in the early hours of Wednesday, and flames and smoke were visible along the city’s skyline, as the Israeli military confirmed it was striking “targets of Hezbollah.
Previously, residents of some neighborhoods in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital were asked to evacuate their homes. In a message posted on X, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, warned residents that they were “near Hezbollah-owned facilities and interests“.
These events come after Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, the latest episode in a series of increasing attacks in the region.
The orange glow of the missiles streaked across Israel’s night sky, as air-warning sirens blared and residents rushed into fallout shelters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate for Iran’s barrage, which he called a “big mistake.”
The IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force’s operational capabilities were not affected by the Iranian missile strikes and that it would carry out further strikes in the coming hours.
“The Air Force continues to operate in full force and tonight it will continue to strike mightily in the Middle East, as it has throughout the last year“said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
He added that Israel would continue to pursue Hezbollah commanders and anyone threatening Israeli citizens.
“Iran committed a serious act tonight, pushing the Middle East towards escalation. We will act when and where we decide” said Mr. Hagari.
Missile attacks celebrated in Iran
In Tehran, government supporters celebrated Iran’s retaliation against Israel on Tuesday evening, waving Iranian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags, as well as portraits of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed on September 27 in Beirut.
People were also seen celebrating the attack in parts of Gaza and the West Bank.
Before Iran’s attack, Israel had delivered a series of devastating blows in recent weeks against Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon. He then increased pressure on the Iran-backed militant group – which has fired rockets at Israel since the start of the Gaza war – by launching what he said would be a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon over the past two weeks, nearly a quarter of them women and children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes across the border.