Israeli airstrikes on Central Beirut kill 22; Hezbollah leader Wafiq Safa survives
According to security sources, a high-ranking Hezbollah member escaped an Israeli assassination attempt in Beirut on Thursday, as per news agency Reuters. The attack was a component of a broader surge of Israeli air attacks that resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, escalating the existing conflict between Israel and the Iran-supported Hezbollah.
The air attacks caused extensive damage in two communities and wounded many people, making them among the deadliest in more than a year. Israeli strikes put United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon at risk, causing anger and renewed accusations of international law breaches.
Wafiq Safa, who leads Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, was the target of the Israeli assassination attempt but managed to survive. Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV verified that the assassination attempt was unsuccessful, as Safa was not present in the buildings that were targeted during the strikes.
Also read: Biden, Netanyahu discuss rising tensions in the Middle-East
Attack highlights Israel’s growing focus on Hezbollah officials
The attempted attack on Safa, who deals with the security and political issues of the militant group, indicates Israel’s growing interest in targeting Hezbollah officials, not just the group’s military leaders and top commanders.
Airstrikes by Israel in central Beirut on Thursday hit two residential buildings in different neighborhoods, leading to the death of 22 individuals and causing injuries to 117 more, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.
Also read: Who is Esmail Qaani? Iran’s Quds Force leader missing since Beirut strikes
The strikes brought down an eight-storey building and ripped apart the lower floors of another, leaving two neighbourhoods smouldering. Witnesses told CNN the destroyed building housed recently displaced people.
UN says its peacekeepers in Lebanon in danger
Israeli troops fired at UN peacekeepers in the south of Lebanon, causing injuries to two of them. The incident sparked a lot of criticism and led Italy to call Israel’s ambassador as a form of protest.
The two peacekeepers were reportedly from Indonesia’s contingent and were in good condition after being treated for light injuries, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a statement.
Also read: Netanyahu slams Macron over calls for ‘Arms Embargo’
The safety of more than 10,400 U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon is “increasingly in jeopardy” and operations have virtually halted since late September, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council. That coincides with Israel’s escalation of its conflict with Lebanon. UNIFIL called attacks on peacekeepers “a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
The US government expressed deep concerns about Israeli forces shooting at UN positions and is asking Israel for more information.
