Israel Strikes Dahieh as Army Pledges to Fight On in South

Beirut’s southern suburbs experienced a series of airstrikes on Sunday morning and around noon after the Israeli military issued two evacuation warnings. Smoke columns rose above the southern part of the capital, which includes Lebanon’s only international airport.

Further south, overnight airstrikes and shelling by Israeli forces targeted the town of Khiam, according to the state-run National News Agency. Following these attacks, the Israeli military reported that around 20 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted by its defense system. No immediate casualties were reported by emergency services.

Since September 23, Israel has intensified its military actions in Lebanon, deploying ground troops following almost a year of limited cross-border fire with Hezbollah. These hostilities began as Hezbollah expressed support for Hamas in Gaza. Israeli officials have vowed to continue military operations until it is safe for tens of thousands of displaced Israelis from the north to return home.

On Sunday, shelling by Israeli forces targeted areas along the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Strikes also hit Tyre, damaging a neighborhood near ancient UNESCO-listed ruins. Israel’s military confirmed it had targeted Hezbollah positions in that region.

In eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, an airstrike killed six people, including three children, according to the health ministry. Meanwhile, Hezbollah reported using a guided missile to destroy an Israeli tank in Shamaa, a southwestern Lebanese village.

Funerals were held in eastern Lebanon for 14 civil defense workers killed in an Israeli strike last Thursday. Relatives of the deceased emphasized that the victims were not involved in any armed conflict and were merely awaiting rescue calls.

Lebanese authorities report that over 3,452 people have been killed since October last year, with most casualties occurring after September. Meanwhile, Israel announced that a soldier had been killed in southern Lebanon, raising its death toll from fighting with Hezbollah to 48.

In Israel, three suspects were detained after flares were fired near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea while he was away. In Tel Aviv, protesters reiterated calls for the government to negotiate the release of hostages still held in Gaza, a week after Qatar suspended its mediation efforts due to a lack of progress in truce and hostage-release negotiations between Hamas and Israel.