The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) launched a series of intense airstrikes on the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut on Friday, targeting the underground headquarters of Hezbollah, the IDF announced.
The attack, described as “massive,” sent thick plumes of black smoke over the Lebanese capital, as videos circulated on social media and local news networks, showing the aftermath of the strike.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israeli jets were behind the bombing, stating that the primary objective was Hezbollah’s main headquarters, located beneath a civilian neighborhood in Dahiyeh. However, he declined to comment on rumors regarding the presence of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the site during the raid.
The strike closely followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the United Nations General Assembly. During a press conference shortly after the speech, Netanyahu was interrupted by his military aide, Major General Roman Gofman, which led to him abruptly ending the briefing. Shortly after, Netanyahu’s office released a photo showing him in his New York hotel room, reportedly authorizing the airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut described the bombings as “unprecedented,” with multiple, loud explosions occurring in rapid succession across the densely populated suburb. The area, home to hundreds of thousands of people, was also the site of large gatherings for funerals earlier that day for three Hezbollah fighters killed by Israeli airstrikes the previous day.
Among those killed in Thursday’s strikes was Mohammad Hussein Srour, also known as Abu Saleh, the head of Hezbollah’s drone, cruise missile, and air-defense divisions. Hezbollah confirmed Srour’s death on Friday morning.
Following Friday’s airstrikes, at least six buildings collapsed in Dahiyeh, according to reports from Al-Arabiya. Despite concerns about Nasrallah’s fate, the Iranian Tasnim News Agency, citing Lebanese security sources, reported that the Hezbollah leader is alive and unharmed.
“يعدّ الأقوى من نوعه”… الطيران الإسرائيلي يضرب #الضاحية! (فيديو وصور)https://t.co/1UoOuKwE2N pic.twitter.com/0yoFsNC9nU
— Lebanon Debate (@lebanondebate) September 27, 2024
“يعدّ الأقوى من نوعه”… الطيران الإسرائيلي يضرب #الضاحية! (#فيديو و #صور)https://t.co/1UoOuKwE2N pic.twitter.com/h9qTTamqzQ
— Lebanon Debate (@lebanondebate) September 27, 2024
