CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Israel upped the ante in its ongoing war with Hezbollah, by targeting its headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, in a series of massive airstrikes, which have, reportedly, killed six and injured more than 90 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The airstrikes, which destroyed several high-rise residential buildings, came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s much-awaited speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he had vowed to continue the fight against Hamas and Hezbollah. Soon after the strikes, Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States to return home.
The target of the airstrikes was the main Hezbollah headquarters, Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed, who added that the headquarters were located underneath the residential buildings. Around five apartment buildings were completely destroyed in Haret Hreik. The toll in the attack on the densely populated and predominantly Shiite district is expected to go up as rescue workers were seen combing through the debris even as smoke billowed up from the site.
Who is Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah? Is he alive?
Though the IDF has not confirmed it, AP quoted sources as saying that it was targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. It is not yet known if he was at the headquarters, and the Hezbollah has not commented on the attacks either.
Reuters quoted a source close to Hezbollah as saying that Nasrallah was unreachable following the airstrikes, but is believed to be alive. Though Iran’s Tasnim news agency has said that Nasrallah is safe, a senior Iranian security official told Reuters that Tehran was “checking his status”.
