Israel conducted airstrikes on what it identified as Hezbollah weapon facilities in southern Beirut on Saturday, following rocket fire from the Lebanese group into northern Israel. A spokesperson also reported that a drone was launched towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vacation residence.

Netanyahu was not present at the location during the incident, and it remains uncertain whether the building sustained any damage. He characterized the drone attack as an assassination attempt orchestrated by “Iran’s proxy Hezbollah” and labeled it a “serious error,” as Israel gears up to respond to a recent missile assault from Iran.

These strikes occurred amid reports from medics and Hamas media in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in efforts to dismantle the Palestinian militant organization for over a year. They indicated that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in over 100 fatalities across the coastal territory, with a tightening siege affecting three hospitals.

The ongoing commitments from Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah to continue their confrontations have dampened hopes that the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday could pave the way for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, thereby averting further escalation in the region.

Officials, diplomats, and various sources indicate that as the U.S. elections draw near, Israel is intensifying its military operations to fortify its borders and prevent its adversaries from regrouping.

On Saturday, Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over southern Gaza featuring an image of Sinwar with the declaration: “Hamas will no longer govern Gaza.”

Later that day, Israeli airstrikes targeted a multi-story building in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, resulting in at least 73 fatalities and numerous injuries, according to medical personnel and Hamas media reports.

The Israeli military is currently investigating reports of casualties from an airstrike in northern Gaza. An Israeli official noted that initial assessments indicated the casualty figures may have been inflated and did not align with the information they had received.

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israel conducted extensive strikes on multiple sites, creating thick smoke that lingered over the city into the evening. The military stated that these strikes aimed at “several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence command center.”

Israel had issued evacuation orders for four neighborhoods within the suburbs, advising residents to move at least 500 meters away; however, strikes occurred in other areas as well, according to eyewitness accounts.

Since Israel began regular bombardments in the southern suburbs approximately three weeks ago, tens of thousands of residents have fled the area, which was previously densely populated and housed Hezbollah offices and underground facilities.

An Israeli airstrike on September 27 resulted in the death of Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, with subsequent strikes eliminating other high-ranking members of the Iran-backed group.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed that the United States hopes Israel will reduce some of its military actions in and around Beirut.

A NEW AREA IMPACTED

On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of two individuals traveling along Lebanon’s primary highway close to the predominantly Christian town of Jounieh. The Israeli military has stated that it is investigating the incident.

Additionally, another strike in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley claimed the lives of at least four people, according to health officials. Among the deceased was the mayor of a nearby town, marking the second mayoral death this week.

In response, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks into Israel, resulting in one fatality and at least nine injuries, as reported by the Israeli ambulance service.

There has been no immediate response from Hezbollah regarding a drone strike aimed at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence in the northern town of Caesarea, which he claimed was intended to assassinate him and his wife.

The ongoing conflict over the past year has led to direct confrontations between Iran and Israel, including missile strikes on Israel in April and again on October 1. Netanyahu has pledged to retaliate against the October missile attack, stating, “I warn Iran and its proxies in their axis of evil: Anyone who attempts to harm Israel’s citizens will face severe consequences,” following the attack in Caesarea.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded, asserting, “We have already taken action against the Israeli regime, and the recent incident was executed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

STALLED TALKS

Since the onset of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which is backed by Iran, Hezbollah has engaged in exchanges of fire with Israel. On Saturday alone, the Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched approximately 200 projectiles.
Nearly three weeks prior, Israel initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon aimed at securing the border area for its citizens who had evacuated due to the ongoing violence.
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced that it had successfully destroyed tunnel shafts and other underground facilities in southern Lebanon. Additionally, they reported the death of Hezbollah’s deputy commander in the Bint Jbeil region on Friday.
Israeli media has indicated that the military is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Hezbollah detainee in Lebanon.
Since October 2023, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that over 2,400 individuals have lost their lives, with the majority occurring in the past month. In northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, Israeli authorities have confirmed 59 fatalities.
According to Israeli figures, Hamas-led militants were responsible for approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 250 hostages in the initial attack that sparked the conflict. Palestinian officials claim that Israel’s military actions have resulted in more than 42,500 deaths.

The Israeli military operation has rendered the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents homeless, leading to widespread food shortages and the destruction of healthcare facilities and educational institutions. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for administration in the Palestinian Territories, has increased the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza in response to global calls for assistance. On Saturday, Israel and the United Arab Emirates conducted an air drop of supplies in southern Gaza.

Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have indicated that the death of Sinwar presents an opportunity for negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of the remaining hostages. However, discussions regarding such an agreement have been at a standstill for several weeks. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been spearheading diplomatic initiatives, is anticipated to visit Israel on Tuesday as part of a broader regional diplomatic mission, according to reports on the social media platform X.