Israeli raid in Beirut targets senior Hezbollah commander

A very loud explosion was heard today (July 30) in the southern suburb of Beirut, and thick smoke rose from this area, which is considered a stronghold of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization, according to what eyewitnesses told Reuters.

A security source said the strike targeted a senior commander in the Shiite group, whose fate is currently unclear. Another source close to Hezbollah called it an “Israeli strike.”

broke down:

The scene in the Lebanese capital Beirut now after Israel bombed the densely populated Haret Hreik area, targeting residential buildings.

This is terrorism pic.twitter.com/e4p2YUMUcK

— Sarah (@sahouraxo) July 30, 2024

A major Israeli airstrike destroys large parts of a building in Beirut, Lebanon.

It seems they went after a high value target. pic.twitter.com/T0qxsCoVPL

– Visegrad 24 (@Visegrad24) July 30, 2024

Shortly after, the Israeli military confirmed in a statement that it had carried out the strike in Beirut, in response to the attack on the Golan Heights, where 12 children were killed.

It was a “targeted strike” against a senior Hezbollah official, specifically the commander responsible for the attack on the Golan.

The city has been on high alert for the past few days, awaiting an Israeli response to the raid on the occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children and young men. Israel and the United States blame Hezbollah for the attack, which denies any responsibility.

🚨🇮🇱🇱🇧 Urgent: A huge explosion was heard in Beirut, Lebanon.

Israel just made a huge mistake! pic.twitter.com/vIXVUNutUl

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) July 30, 2024

broke down

Israel just attacked somewhere in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
This is what I see from my balcony pic.twitter.com/jLNMZxltJv

— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) July 30, 2024

This is not Gaza, this is Beirut 💔🇱🇧 pic.twitter.com/FRX8KboABK

— Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) July 30, 2024

A powerful explosion was heard in Beirut and thick smoke rose from the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital at around 19:40 (Greek local time), an eyewitness told Reuters.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the Israeli raid targeted the area where the headquarters of Hezbollah’s Shura Council (equivalent to the political bureau) is located in the Harat Haret neighborhood.

Hezbollah leader escaped

Lebanese state media and a source close to the security services later said that a woman was killed and seven others were wounded in the Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Another source close to Hezbollah said at least two people were killed.

The target was Mohsen Shukr, also known as Fouad Shukr, the head of Hezbollah’s operational arm, according to three senior security officials. The United States has sanctioned Fouad Sukkar since 2015. Two sources told Reuters he is alive.

The Middle East is a garbage dump.

Today’s incident comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised yesterday (29/7) that there would be a “firm response” after the bombing that killed 12 young men in this city, in the annexed Golan Heights.

“These children are our children. The State of Israel will not and cannot allow this. Our response will come and it will be harsh.”

According to the Israeli military, the rocket was fired from Lebanon by the Islamist group Hezbollah, which denies any involvement in the attack.

There are several countries that recommend their citizens to leave Lebanon.

Britain advised its citizens to leave Lebanon yesterday, as efforts were stepped up to prevent an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah following a deadly attack on the occupied Golan Heights.

The Greek Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on avoiding visits to Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iran.

The latest announcement read: “We recall the relevant announcements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which recommend avoiding visits to Lebanon except in cases of extreme necessity, as well as the departure of visitors from the country.”

Germany did the same, calling on its citizens to leave the country.

It is worth noting that flights to and from Beirut have been suspended. Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France suspended their flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Beirut yesterday and today.

Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings, part of the German Lufthansa Group, have also suspended flights to and from the Lebanese capital until August 5 due to developments in the Middle East, a group representative said.