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TEL AVIV — Explosions were heard in Beirut in the early hours of Wednesday, with fire and smoke visible along the city’s skyline, as the Israeli military confirmed it was striking “Hezbollah targets.”
Earlier, residents in some areas of the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital were warned to evacuate their homes. In a post on X, IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents that they were “near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah.”
This comes after Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday night, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in the region.
The orange glow of missiles streaked across Israel’s night sky as air raid sirens sounded and residents scrambled into bomb shelters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation for Iran’s barrage, calling it a “big mistake.”
The IDF announced that the operational capabilities of the Israeli Air Force have not been affected by Iran’s missile strikes, and it will carry out more strikes in the Middle East overnight.
“The Air Force continues to operate fully, and tonight it will continue to strike in the Middle East powerfully, as has been happening throughout the past year,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
Hagari added that Israel would continue to pursue Hezbollah commanders and anyone who threatened Israeli citizens.
“Iran committed a serious act tonight, pushing the Middle East towards escalation. We will act at the time and place we decide,” Hagari said.
Government supporters in Tehran celebrated Iran’s missile attack against Israel Tuesday evening, waving Iranian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags and holding portraits of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. People were also seen celebrating the attack in parts of Gaza and the West Bank.
Before Iran’s attack, Israel had landed a series of devastating blows in recent weeks against the leadership of Hezbollah in Lebanon. It then ratcheted up the pressure on the Iran-backed militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since the war in Gaza began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.
Israeli strikes have killed over 1,000 people in Lebanon over the past two weeks, nearly a quarter of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry. — Euronews
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