Israel bombed Lebanon’s capital of central Beirut on Thursday following the Netanyahu government’s vows of a “very strong response” to Iran’s missile attacks. At least nine people have been killed and 14 injured as a result of the Israeli air strikes, according to Al Jazeera.
One of the strikes killed a Lebanese soldier on Thursday who was carrying out a rescue and evacuation mission with the country’s Red Cross, CNN reported.
Another soldier was injured during the operation, which targeted the southern town of Taybeh.
Three missiles ##hit Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh on Thursday, “one of which targeted (the neighborhood of) Haret Hreik,” Lebanese state media NNA reported.
Hezbollah announced shortly after the blast that its media office had been hit.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced they were launching a ground incursion on Lebanon, after issuing more than 20 evacuation orders directing civilians in several villages in southern Lebanon to flee.
Israel’s United Nations Ambassador, Danny Danon, promised on Tuesday that Israel “will act” in response to the attack that targeted vital infrastructure near Tel Aviv.
Fearing an out-of-control escalation of the conflict, United States President Joe Biden said he would not support Israel attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, a long-standing target of Israel’s government, according to some analysts.
Iran claimed its missile attack was in retaliation for the killing of key allied figures, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Iran’s president stated that the attack was justified, asserting that “Iran does not seek war.”