Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Beirut’s Southern Suburb, Target Residential Areas Amid Intensifying Aggression
In a wave of overnight airstrikes on Friday, Israeli warplanes targeted the Southern Suburb of Beirut, causing widespread devastation across several residential neighborhoods. The strikes leveled multiple apartment buildings and inflicted severe damage on homes in areas including al-Mrayjeh, al-Laylaki near the Lebanese University, and Al-Amarken near Chiah. Additional strikes hit three buildings in Rweiss, Burj al-Barajneh, and Haret Hreik, according to Al Mayadeen.
The attacks appear to be part of Israel's escalating retaliatory operations directed at regions seen as strongholds of the Resistance’s support base. Despite Israeli claims that these strikes target infrastructure linked to the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, emerging video footage and eyewitness reports reveal the widespread civilian impact, showing extensive damage and rubble across densely populated areas.
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Footage from Al Mayadeen showed plumes of smoke and dust rising from demolished buildings, while nearby areas, including those close to the Lebanese University, suffered extensive structural damage. The raids have reportedly caused significant public alarm, as Israeli drones flew at low altitudes over Beirut, marking further escalation.
Heavy Casualties as Israel Intensifies Strikes Across Lebanon
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the overall death toll has now reached 3,117, with over 13,888 injured since the start of Israeli military actions against Lebanon. Southern Lebanon towns, such as Shebaa and Kfar Shouba, were also targeted, with extensive artillery shelling causing additional casualties. The village of Ghandourieh saw four civilian deaths due to airstrikes, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
In Beirut’s Southern Suburb, which saw over 11 strikes late Friday, residents were given “evacuation orders” minutes before the air raids, a move seen by many as insufficient to prevent civilian harm.