Israel ramps up airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs

Israel on Friday unleashed a spate of airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area seen as a hotbed of Lebanon’s Iran-allied Hezbollah movement.

In the evening, the Israeli military carried out four airstrikes on the suburbs, bringing to 12 the number of hits that targeted the area Friday.

The latest wave targeted the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiri, Galerie Semman, Chiyah and Haret Hreik.

The bombardment sparked fires and resulted in the collapse of buildings, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported.

Israel earlier struck hit several buildings in the neighbourhoods of Hadath and Haret Hreik, for which Israel’s army had previously issued evacuation warnings.

Residents usually are told by the Israeli military to keep at least 500 metres away.

Head of major hospital killed in separate strike

The head of a major hospital in eastern Lebanon was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Ali Rakan Alam, the director of Dar Al Amal University Hospital, was killed along with six colleagues in a “treacherous aggression” on his house, the ministry added.

The hospital is the largest in the north-eastern province of Baalbek-Hermel, according to the ministry.

“This martyrdom comes amid the continued attacks carried out by the Israeli enemy army on health workers and institutions in an accumulation of war crimes,” the ministry added in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

UN says four Italian peacekeepers hurt in attack

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reported a new attack against its facilities, injuring four of its personnel.

The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two rockets hit the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon on Friday.

“Two rockets struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama, injuring four Italian peacekeepers who are now receiving treatment at the base hospital. Fortunately, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” UNIFIL added in a statement.

The rockets, likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups, hit a bunker and a logistics area used by the international military police, causing significant damage to nearby infrastructure, the statement said.

One of the affected structures caught fire, but the blaze was swiftly extinguished by base personnel, UNIFIL said.

“This is the third attack on this UNIFIL base in Shama in a week.
Today’s attack comes amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Shama and Naqoura areas in recent days, heightening tensions in the region.”

The peacekeeping force said it strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions.

Also in southern Lebanon, five paramedics were killed in two separate Israeli strikes.

One hit a car belonging to the Islamic Health Authority Association, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, at the Deir Qanun-Ras al-Ain junction, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Three paramedics from the same association were killed in another attack in Al Qatarni.

Up until Thursday, Israel had killed at least 214 healthcare workers and injured 321 others, the ministry said.

Nearly 3,600 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October 2023, although most of the deaths have occurred since September.

More than 15,000 people have been injured and over 1 million displaced, according to the Lebanese health authorities.

Women and children reportedly among eight new Gaza deaths

Women and children were among the latest casualties in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike, Palestinian media reported on Friday.

Eight people died, according to the WAFA news agency. There were also casualties in the attack on a house in the city’s northern Shejaiya district, it reported.

The information could not initially be independently verified. The Israeli army said it was investigating the alleged incidents.

WAFA also reported repeated deadly attacks by Israeli forces in other locations in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled health authority in the sealed-off coastal region warned that hospitals could be shut down or restricted within 48 hours due to the lack of fuel.

According to the Israeli military, it is continuing operations against Hamas fighters in the Jabaliya refugee district in the northern Gaza Strip.

Officials said Israeli troops had so far discovered around 300 explosive-rigged buildings there.

The Israeli army also said that it last week killed the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) rocket unit, who had been responsible for numerous rocket attacks on Israel.