Explosions Sound Off in Beirut as Israeli Air Force Strikes Targets in Southern Suburbs
21:14 GMT 30.09.2024 (Updated: 22:35 GMT 30.09.2024)
© AP Photo / Hassan Ammar
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BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Israeli Air Force aircraft attacked several targets in the southern suburb of Beirut, a Lebanese field source told Sputnik on Monday.
"Israeli aircraft struck the Laylaki and Borj El Brajneh neighborhoods in the southern suburb of Beirut. There will most likely be another series of strikes," the source said.
A Sputnik correspondent has reported three powerful explosions were detected in the Lebanese capital.
In turn, Hezbollah officials stated that its fighters had targeted Israeli soldiers in a wooded area along the border.
Video of an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 30, 2024
No less than four airstrikes have occurred in the southern suburbs of Beirut in the past fifteen minutes.
Source: social media pic.twitter.com/MX5Vu0jpFd
The view from the southern suburbs of Beirut right now, Sputnik’s correspondent reports. pic.twitter.com/s4Uq81rwll
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 30, 2024
Earlier, unconfirmed footage surfaced showing what appeared to be continued border clashes as on-the-ground media reported that Israeli tanks had been heard in the vicinity.
Videos of alleged clashes between Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah near the Israeli-Lebanese border are spreading on social media. pic.twitter.com/8BRnEbi8in
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 30, 2024
The latest round of explosions erupted while reports detailed that the Israeli security cabinet had approved the next phase of its military actions against neighboring Lebanon, of which observers believe is part of the looming ground offensive.
A US government official previously revealed that Israel had informed the US about its ground invasion of Lebanon over the weekend during "extensive" discussion. It was noted then that the operation could begin as early as Monday night and last for several days, instead of weeks. The geographical reach would be limited.
The Israeli military reportedly has about five brigades forward-deployed to the border but not all of them are expected to cross into Lebanon, a US official said.
The aim of the operation is reportedly to push Hezbollah fighters further away from the northern Israeli border and target the Lebanese movement's infrastructure and weapon stocks.
White House insiders relayed to media that the the administration remained concerned during talks about the Israeli incursion escalating into a wider conflict and that US President Joe Biden had continued pushing for a ceasefire.
Additional US reports citing sources in-the-know claimed the White House does not believe the looming ground operation would expand to the scale of the 2006 Lebanon War, which carried on for just over a month.
The situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border aggravated after the start of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip in October 2023. Israel began carrying out massive strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon last Monday. Hezbollah retaliated by firing dozens of rockets toward northern Israel.
Tensions were kicked up an extra level after the spate of strikes on Friday caused the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who had been holding a meeting underground in Beirut when rocket fire was set. Israel deployed some 85 bunker-buster bombs in the vicinity, killing several and injuring dozens of residents.
The latest figures released by the Lebanese Health Ministry have indicated that 95 people have been killed and 172 have sustained injuries in the past 24 hours alone.
