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Israel-Lebanon crisis: 2 dead, 76 wounded as warplanes strike south Beirut

A source close to Hezbollah said that Hassan Nasrallah was fine after the massive strike on the suburbs targeted the group's leader

Published: Fri 27 Sep 2024, 7:43 PM

Updated: Fri 27 Sep 2024, 10:20 PM

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  • AFP/Reuters

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Smoke rises from the smouldering rubble as people gather at the scene of Israeli air strikes in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday. Photo: AFP

Smoke rises from the smouldering rubble as people gather at the scene of Israeli air strikes in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday. Photo: AFP

Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed and 76 wounded in a huge Israeli air strike in Beirut's densely populated southern suburbs on Friday, adding it was a preliminary toll.

"The successive Israeli enemy strikes on Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburbs, in a preliminary toll, killed two people and wounded 76, including... 15 that required hospitalisation," a ministry statement said.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah's central headquarters in the suburbs, in an attack that shook the Lebanese capital and sent thick clouds of smoke over the city.

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A source close to Hezbollah said that Hassan Nasrallah was "fine" after the massive strike on the suburbs that Israeli media said targeted the group's leader.

"Sayyed Nasrallah is fine," the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Leading Israeli television networks reported that Nasrallah was the target of the strike.

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

Hezbollah's al-Manar television reported that four buildings were destroyed and there were many casualties in the multiple strikes, which marked a major escalation of Israel's conflict with the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In a televised statement, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the central command centre was embedded deep within civilian areas.

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

Footage broadcast by al-Manar TV showed at least one smouldering crater at the site of the attack.

Security sources in Lebanon said the attack targeted an area where top Hezbollah officials are usually based. It was the heaviest attack in Beirut in almost a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

The strikes hit Beirut shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel's attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon in a closely watched United Nations speech, as hopes faded for a ceasefire that could head off an all-out regional war.

A year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated sharply this week, raising fears of an even more destructive conflict between the heavily armed adversaries.

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