Hundreds of Beirut residents were forced to flee their homes on Sunday night as multiple explosions shook the Lebanese capital. Israel had warned of an impending attack on sites linked to Hezbollah’s financial operations and urged people to evacuate these areas immediately. Witnesses reported seeing dense smoke and at least 10 blasts, with one building in the Chiyah neighborhood being reduced to rubble.
There was no immediate information on casualties or the cause of the explosions. Panicked crowds caused traffic jams as they tried to escape to safer neighborhoods. The Israeli military confirmed it would target infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah’s financial arm, Al-Qard al-Hassan, which is used by the group to manage its finances.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated with cross-border fighting erupting a year ago. Israel recently launched a ground assault in Lebanon to secure its border region and has intensified military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel retaliated for an Iranian missile barrage earlier this month, targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and killing three commanders.
In response, Hezbollah fired missiles at Israeli forces in Lebanon and northern Israel. The conflict has resulted in casualties on both sides, with fighters still being recovered from rubble in Gaza. The ongoing violence comes amid hopes for ceasefire negotiations and concerns about further escalation as Israel seeks to protect its borders and prevent its rivals from regrouping.
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