Israel strikes Beirut as fighting continues in southern Lebanon | Israel attacks Lebanon News

Israeli forces have attacked southern Lebanon and the outskirts of Beirut, killing at least five doctors and demolishing a multi-storey building, as ground forces clashed with Hezbollah fighters in the south.

The National News Agency (NNA) of Lebanon reported that Israeli warplanes launched strikes on Friday on two buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The missile hit the middle of an 11-story apartment building, a gymnasium and apartments on a busy street in a residential area.

The impact ignited a fire and caused the building to collapse on itself, filling the road with debris.

NNA reported that people fled the area after Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee warned in a post on social media platform X that the army would attack “Hezbollah facilities and interests” in Chiyah.

The evacuation orders also included the areas of Haret Hreik and Ghobeiry.

The NNA earlier on Friday reported more Israeli strikes south of Beirut, adding: “Smoke was seen near the Lebanese University” in the Hadath neighborhood.

The Israeli military said in a statement that “warplanes have completed a new round of strikes” in areas south of Beirut.

Israel presses down, attacks in the air

In southern Lebanon, Israeli soldiers on Friday entered the village of Deir Mimas for the first time, which is 2.5 kilometers from the Israeli border, NNA reported.

“Enemy reconnaissance planes” were flying over Deir Mimas, which is now deserted, warning people “not to leave their homes”, NNA reported.

Hezbollah said its forces were targeting Israeli forces in the area with rockets and artillery.

The Israeli army wanted to advance in many areas along the border, especially in the town of Khiam, where Hezbollah said it had launched several attacks on soldiers on Friday.

The Israeli army has issued warnings in part of the coastal city of Tire and nearby areas and several other areas in the south of the country.

Israeli warplanes have carried out a series of strikes on suspected Hezbollah targets in Tyre, including command headquarters, intelligence infrastructure, weapons depots, observation posts and military buildings, Adraee said.

At least five health workers of the Islamic Health Organization were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Three were killed in Qatrani in Jezzine district and two other doctors from the same organization were killed in Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain.

The minister condemned the killings as “war crimes”.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, said the fighting appeared to be intensifying.

“The root of this conflict is the escalation at a time when it is clear that the latest attempt by the American administration to end the conflict has failed,” he said, referring to the latest US-led defense campaign. to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

US ambassador Amos Hochstein, who wants an end to the war, has completed a visit to the region this week.

UN peacekeepers under fire

Also on Friday, four Italian soldiers with the United Nations peacekeeping unit were injured when two rockets hit the base of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the village of Chamaa.

The Italian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that two 122mm rockets hit the basement and a room near the international military police headquarters, causing damage to the surrounding infrastructure.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni condemned the incident and expressed “deep anger and concern” at the “new attack on the Italian headquarters of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon”.

Since Israel began its offensive in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL troops have been attacked numerous times.

“This attack is unacceptable,” Meloni said in a statement, asking “the parties on the ground to ensure, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL troops and to work together to quickly find those responsible”.

Months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the war in Gaza escalated into a major conflict in September when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign across the country and sent ground troops into southern Lebanon.

More than 3,580 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since October last year, and more than 15,000 have been injured.