An Israeli F-35 fighter jets targeted a residential building in the Ghobeiry area of Beirut on the afternoon of September 25. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that at least six people have been killed and 15 injured, with the death toll expected to rise as emergency services continue their work at the scene. The strike hit two floors of the building.
The Israeli army stated that the attack was an assassination attempt on a “high-ranking commander,” reportedly Ibrahim Kobeissi, a senior Hezbollah leader, whose fate remains uncertain. The Israeli military has not confirmed the outcome of the operation.
The Israeli military announced just before the attack that it is “now attacking targets in Beirut.” This action is similar to its previous strike on a building in Dahiyeh yesterday, where it claimed to target Ali Karaki, the third-ranking military official in Hezbollah, according to Megaphone News. The party stated that the assassination attempt failed and that Karaki is safe, having moved to a secure location.
In the coming hours, affected areas are likely to experience increased security measures, as well as disruptions to transportation and business activities.
In response to Israel’s attack on southern Beirut this afternoon, Hezbollah launched 105 rockets into Israel, according to Israeli Channel 12. Hezbollah claims to have struck the Samson Base, located 20 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, with Fadi 3 missiles. The base serves as a command equipment center and regional equipment unit.
The Israeli army stated in a statement that it has used 2,000 munitions in approximately 1,500 strikes targeting “terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon and deep within Lebanese territory,” according to Al Jazeera.
The military added that its goal is to “remove threats to Israeli civilians and degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and capabilities in Lebanon.”