'Another Gaza': Massive midnight explosions rock Beirut as Israeli airstrikes continue

New Delhi, Sept 28: The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked by a series of explosions amid indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes, targeting residential areas in southern Lebanon and displacing hundreds and thousands of people from there.

Displaced families from Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut, and nearby towns have flooded into the city centre, seeking refuge. Many were forced to leave their homes with little to no notice and are now stranded on the streets.

Images and videos from Beirut’s downtown area and its iconic seaside streets show displaced families camped out, with no idea of what comes next.

The airstrikes, which hit half a dozen residential buildings in the southern parts of the city, have been described as "unprecedented." Civilians are among the casualties, as rescuers continue to dig through the rubble.

In addition to its military assault against the besieged Gaza strip, Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Lebanon. Cross border battles between Israel and Hezbollah started after Oct 7 last year when Israel launched its war on Gaza following a militant attack on its borders.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israel has intensified its bombing campaign, which has killed hundreds in Lebanon since Monday according to Lebanon officials.

The Israeli army has continued issuing warnings on X (formerly Twitter), urging civilians in specific neighbourhoods to "immediately" evacuate for their safety. Residents say the constant drone buzzing overhead and ambulance sirens have made Beirut feel like a "another Gaza."

Reports have emerged that Friday’s strikes on Beirut may have targeted Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, a top Hezbollah commander. According to U.S. media, Israeli officials said they aimed at Hezbollah's headquarters, though it remains unconfirmed whether Nasrallah was present.

U.S. sources told CBS News that they have no information on Nasrallah's status, and reports of senior Hezbollah leaders being killed have not yet been verified.

Meanwhile, fresh airstrikes continue to hit southern Beirut, with media reporting loud explosions and smoke filling the sky. Israel has claimed the strikes were "targeted" at buildings storing Hezbollah's weapons.

Lebanese officials report that six people were killed and 91 injured in an earlier airstrike. Nearly 700 Lebanese civilians have lost their lives since the start of the bombing campaign earlier this week.

The Israeli military has confirmed the death of Muhammad Ali Ismail, the commander of Hezbollah’s missile unit, and his deputy, Hussein Ahmad Ismail, in one of the recent strikes.

Israel attributes the pair to several attacks on its territory, including rocket and missile launches. Nearly four top leaders of Hezbollah have been killed so far.

As the airstrikes continue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations, vowing to "defeat Hezbollah." Netanyahu announced that Israel would persist in its military operations to enable the return of 70,000 Israelis displaced in the northern region of the country. Following his address, he cut short his trip to New York to return to Israel.

In the U.S., President Joe Biden has instructed the Pentagon to reassess U.S. military deployments in West Asia in response to the escalating violence. Meanwhile, U.S., UK, France, India, and embassies of other countries have issued travel advisories urging their citizens in Lebanon to take precautions and provide emergency contact numbers.