The Israeli army carried out intense bombings on the southern part of Beirut, Lebanon, in order to eliminate Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. His situation was still not known Friday evening.
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Carpet bombs on the southern suburbs of Beirut. This is what the Israeli army rushed to the Lebanese capital on Friday September 27, saying it was targeting sites of the pro-Iranian organization Hezbollah in these neighborhoods. The objective of these strikes, according to the IDF, was to eliminate the leader of this organization, Hassan Nasrallah, pushing the Lebanese and Israeli media to wonder if he was present in or under the bombed buildings, and if he was still alive. Without confirmation or denial from Hezbollah, this question was still not resolved in the evening, while new strikes on this area were announced by the Israeli army. Here are the main developments of this new day of war.
Israeli army strikes several neighborhoods in southern Beirut
The Israeli army initially said it had carried out a strike on Friday against the “headquarters” of Hezbollah, in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Provisional results: six dead, 91 injured according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. In a message in Arabic published in the evening on the social network “You are located near Hezbollah interests, and for your safety and that of your loved ones, you are obliged to evacuate the buildings immediately and move away from them for a distance of at least 500 meters.”warns the message. Less than two hours after this press release, explosions were reported in the south of the Lebanese capital, in the district ofAl-Laylaki in particular.
Israeli bombings hit other areas of Lebanon
Israel again claimed “dozens of strikes” targeting Hezbollah on Friday, the fifth day since the start of massive bombings on Lebanese territory. The Israeli army says in particular that it responded to a rocket attack claimed by Hezbollah in the direction of Haifa, the major port in northern Israel. It also says it intercepted four drones fired from Lebanon towards the Rosh Hanikra border area. Five Syrian soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike near the border with Lebanon, according to the official Syrian agency Sana.
Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Iran at the UN
“If you hit us, we will hit you”launched the Israeli Prime Minister from the podium of the UN General Assembly on Friday in New York. “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach”he hammered in the direction of the main support of Hamas and Hezbollah. He also assured that Israel would continue the bombings carried out in Lebanon for a week until “all” the objectives are achieved, and affirmed that Hamas must “to leave” the Gaza Strip.
The UN is concerned about the Lebanese health system
Lebanon is experiencing its period “the deadliest in a generation”estimated the UN, which explains that the country’s health sector is “completely overwhelmed” as a result of Israeli bombings. “And many fear that this is only the beginning”said the UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, affirming that “the recent escalations (…) are nothing short of catastrophic.”
“The war in Lebanon could lead to a new escalation involving external powers”for his part alerted the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres. “I fully support the proposal for a temporary ceasefire which would allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and pave the way for the resumption of serious negotiations for a lasting peace”he insisted.
The Lebanese Prime Minister denounced a “genocidal war”
Najib Mikati, head of the Lebanese government, accused Israel “ignore international calls for a ceasefire” and to carry out a “genocidal war” in his country. On Monday, Najib Mikati had already alerted the international community to the increasingly intense bombings of the Israeli army on Lebanon, evoking “a plan of destruction” of his country.