Israeli strikes in Beirut kill seven, target Hezbollah figures
Beirut— At least seven people were killed and 24 wounded in two Israeli airstrikes in the Beirut area on Wednesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as Israel said it targeted senior members of Hezbollah in the latest escalation of the conflict.
The strikes hit vehicles in Beirut’s southern outskirts and in an area just south of the capital, according to Lebanese authorities and state media.Targeted strikes in capital outskirtsLebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that one strike hit a vehicle in the Khaldeh area south of Beirut, killing two people and wounding three.
A second strike in the Jnah area targeted multiple vehicles, with the health ministry reporting at least five killed and 21 injured.
Israel’s military said it carried out two separate operations aimed at a senior Hezbollah commander and another high-ranking member of the Iran-aligned group, but did not identify the individuals or confirm whether they were killed.
The strikes come amid a widening Israeli offensive in Lebanon that has killed at least 1,200 people and displaced around 1.2 million, according to Lebanese authorities.
Lebanon became directly involved in the broader regional conflict after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Iran, following earlier strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian targets.
The exchange triggered intensified Israeli ground and air operations across Lebanese territory.There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on Wednesday’s strikes.
