Israel's military conducted a strike on Beirut targeting a militant commander allegedly responsible for a rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teens over the weekend. The rocket attack in the town of Majdal Shams has been attributed to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, although Hezbollah has denied involvement in the incident.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed condemnation for the attack, stating that Hezbollah had crossed a red line. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately release a statement but shared a photo of the prime minister with his national security advisor and other officials following the strike.
Reports indicate that an Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut, causing damage to several buildings. The strike targeted an apartment building adjacent to a hospital, resulting in the collapse of half of the building. The hospital sustained minor damages, and the surrounding area was left strewn with debris and broken glass.
Paramedics were seen evacuating several injured individuals from the damaged buildings, although it remains unclear if there were any fatalities. A resident of the suburb described the aftermath of the attack, noting that the explosion had covered everything in dust and shattered the glass in his son's apartment. Concerned for security reasons, he chose to remain anonymous.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that the airstrike in the southern Beirut suburb was carried out by a drone that launched three rockets. This incident marks the first time Israel has targeted Beirut since January, when an airstrike killed a top Hamas official. The previous strike on Beirut occurred during the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006.
