Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut on Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive day of ground operations against the Lebanese militant group. In parallel, Israel intensified its military activities in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed it repelled several attempts by Israeli forces to breach the border and attacked military bases. The Israeli military stated they targeted terrorist personnel, intelligence-gathering assets, command centers, and other terrorist infrastructure associated with the intelligence headquarters. The previous day, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in downtown Beirut resulted in nine deaths and 14 injuries.
Hezbollah said it had stopped Israeli forces from crossing the border at the Fatima checkpoint in southern Lebanon with artillery fire. Lebanese security sources confirmed that the Israeli troops had entered Lebanese territory in recent days but were pushed back and could not establish a foothold. On the same day, clashes between Israeli forces and the Lebanese army led to the deaths of two Lebanese soldiers. The Lebanese military confirmed that one soldier died from an Israeli attack at the Fatima checkpoint, and another was killed in Bint Jbeil.
The Israeli military announced it had attacked approximately 200 targets across Lebanon, including Hezbollah weapon depots. In response, Hezbollah claimed to have fired rockets at a military base in Haifa, a coastal city in northern Israel. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance, a pro-Iranian militia, claimed responsibility for strikes on targets in southern Israel.
As tensions escalate, Israel is reportedly weighing retaliation against Iran for recent missile attacks, with discussions underway about the potential for strikes on Iranian oil facilities, according to U.S. President Joe Biden.
Biden affirmed Israel’s right to respond but urged that any actions be proportional. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declined to comment on Israel’s strategic plans, while a U.S. government official noted that Israel has yet to settle on a specific course of action.
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