A loud explosion was reported late Tuesday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which is a stronghold of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. A Reuters witness described seeing a significant plume of smoke rising from the explosion site.
The blast occurred in the Dahieh area of Beirut’s southern district, and there is speculation that it may have been caused by an Israeli airstrike.
The city has been on high alert recently due to concerns over a potential Israeli retaliation. This heightened tension follows a recent attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of a dozen young people.
Israel and the United States have accused Hezbollah of being responsible for the strike on the Golan Heights. Hezbollah, however, has denied any involvement in the attack.
Reports from Reuters indicate that the strike in a Beirut suburb appears to be an assassination attempt on a party official. Further information is awaited.
The Israeli military has announced that it conducted a strike in Beirut in retaliation for an attack on the Golan Heights. Israeli media reports that the military has claimed responsibility for the Beirut strike and stated that the event is now over. The U.S. State Department emphasizes its focus on diplomacy and aims to prevent any escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
Update
Haj Mohsen, the second-in-command of Hezbollah, has been eliminated in Beirut, according to I24.
Following the strike in Beirut, Hezbollah supporters have taken to the streets, chanting ‘We are at your service, ‘O Hussain’ and ‘We will never surrender!’
Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsen, was reportedly the Hezbollah commander who was attacked in the Israeli airstrike on Beirut.
Hezbollah is now asserting that the Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah Chief of Staff Fuad Shukr was unsuccessful.
Hezbollah security forces have sealed off the area near the site of the Israeli strike in the suburbs of Beirut, and roads leading to the location have been closed.
The Israeli Air Force is on high alert to respond to any aggression from Hezbollah targeting northern and central Israel, with dozens of aircraft stationed at bases throughout the country on standby.
Two people have been killed and at least ten injured in the Israeli airstrike earlier in the suburbs of Beirut. The identities of the deceased are still unknown.
Update
Hezbollah has confirmed that senior military commander Fuad Shukr was in the building struck by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last night. However, they have not yet confirmed his death, stating that “his fate remains unknown as workers continue to clear the rubble.”
Update
Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas Political Bureau chief, was assassinated around midnight in Tehran, according to Iranian media. He was staying at a special veterans’ residence in northern Tehran when he was struck by a projectile launched from the air. Investigations are ongoing, and additional details will be provided soon.
Update
The aftermath of the Israeli strike in Dahieh, Beirut yesterday includes the reported death of senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr. His body was located, and his family has been informed.
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