Beirut, Lebanon – In a series of devastating airstrikes, Israeli forces have reportedly targeted Hezbollah's communication systems, killing 37 people and injuring approximately 3,000, according to Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah. The attacks, which are said to have destroyed radios, pagers, and other equipment, have overwhelmed hospitals and left the militant group reeling from what its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, described as an unprecedented assault.
In a televised address broadcast as Israeli warplanes flew over Beirut, Nasrallah condemned the attacks, stating, "This type of killing, targeting, and crime may be unprecedented in the world." He called the strikes a violation of all "red lines" and warned that Israel's actions could be considered war crimes.
Though Israel has not officially commented on the attacks, security sources suggest that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, may be responsible. Nasrallah's address coincided with sonic booms from Israeli aircraft, intensifying the already volatile atmosphere in Beirut, where citizens have grown accustomed to the sound of warplanes overhead.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, particularly following Hezbollah's support for Hamas in the ongoing Gaza conflict. In the aftermath of the attacks, Nasrallah downplayed the overall impact on his organization, acknowledging the severe blow but maintaining that Hezbollah's infrastructure remains intact. He also reiterated that Israeli forces would face "a crushing response from the axis of resistance," a reference to Iran and its regional allies.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, calling for international intervention to stop what he described as Israel's "aggression" and "technological war" against Lebanon. As both Hezbollah and Israel exchange fire along the border, concerns over a full-scale war continue to mount, with thousands of civilians displaced from their homes on both sides.
Amid the chaos, the Israeli military confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in northern Israel, one reportedly killed by a drone and the other by an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah. Israel, for its part, accused Hezbollah of turning southern Lebanon into a combat zone, using civilian homes as shields and violating international laws.
As tensions rise, Nasrallah warned that the Israeli attacks could lead to further escalations, but also suggested that Hezbollah views the presence of Israeli troops in southern Lebanon as a "historic opportunity" for the Iran-backed group to retaliate.
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