Israeli airstrikes hit Central Beirut

New Delhi, Oct 3: At least six people were killed early Thursday in central Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, following a precision airstrike by the Israeli military. Among the victims was Kamel Ahmad Jawad, 56, a U.S. permanent resident from Michigan. Jawad, who lived in Dearborn, was in Lebanon to care for his elderly mother, according to The Detroit News. This strike is part of an ongoing series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Beirut, but it marks the first attack closer to the city center.

The White House confirmed his death, with a spokesperson expressing condolences: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Kamel Ahmad Jawad and our hearts go out to his family and friends. His death is a tragedy, as are the deaths of many civilians in Lebanon.”

Media reported that the airstrike reportedly hit a building that housed the Islamic Health Authority, an organization affiliated with Hizbollah. Witnesses told CNN that the building, located just meters from Lebanon’s parliament and the United Nations Regional Headquarters, housed the authority’s office on one of its floors. Explosions rocked Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh neighbourhood, a Hizbollah stronghold, sending plumes of smoke into the sky.

Meanwhile, fighting between Israeli forces and Hizbollah fighters has escalated in southern Lebanon. Both sides have confirmed clashes on the ground. Although Israel described its recent ground operations in Lebanon as “limited” and “localised,” there are growing signs that the situation may lead to a broader incursion.

Ground fighting continues in southern Lebanon, where Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah forces are engaged in combat. Lebanese officials report that over 1,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks, with approximately a million displaced by the conflict.

Lebanon’s military reported that Israeli forces crossed the border on Wednesday, advancing 400 meters into Lebanese territory before retreating. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have also issued evacuation orders to 51 villages in southern Lebanon, displacing residents to areas more than 30 miles north of their homes.

IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned of a potential retaliatory strike on Iran, emphasising that Israel is capable of targeting any location in the Middle East. Halevi’s statement comes after the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers during combat in Lebanon on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended condolences to their families.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while stating that Iran does not seek war, warned that any Israeli retaliation would be met with a “stronger response” following Iran’s missile attack on Tuesday. The Iranian envoy to the UN defended the missile strike as a “necessary and proportionate response” to what he described as Israel’s “aggressive acts” in the region.

CNN reported that President Joe Biden affirmed Israel’s right to respond in Washington, stating it should be “proportional.” He added that discussions with Israel about how to address Iran’s missile attack are ongoing. Biden also emphasised that while he does not support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites, the U.S. would consult with Israel on appropriate actions.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has voiced support for Lebanon during this “critical stage,” following an extraordinary meeting in Doha, Qatar, international media reported. The council called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which demands an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and allows only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces to operate south of the Litani River. The GCC also urged all parties to exercise restraint and called on the international community to maintain stability in the region.

Elsewhere, Israeli airstrikes were reported in Syria, where three people were killed, and in Gaza, where eight people lost their lives.