As the crisis between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, Beirut witnessed deadly airstrikes on Thursday.
This development comes as Israeli forces aimed strikes at Wafiq Safa, a senior Hezbollah official who heads the group’s Liaison and Coordination Unit.
Safa managed to escape, but the attack left 22 people dead and over 100 injured, Economic Times reports. The strikes hit Beirut’s central neighbourhoods, a shift from Israel’s earlier focus on the southern suburbs, making this the most significant escalation in Israel’s ongoing military campaign.
Thursday’s attack marks a major escalation of the crisis and shift in Israel’s operations.
While previous airstrikes had primarily focused on Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, this latest offensive struck more central areas of the capital, including Al Nuwairi, Ras el-Nabaa, and the Basta neighbourhood.
It was noted that the full scope of casualties was still being assessed as rescue operations continued in the aftermath of the strikes.
According to Lebanon’s health authorities, it was further noted that the death toll could rise, given the extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure in these densely populated neighbourhoods.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as ambulances struggled to reach the worst-hit areas, and several apartment blocks were reduced to rubble.
In 2008, Safa facilitated a landmark prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel.
Through his negotiations, Hezbollah returned the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 in exchange for five Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, an event that followed the 34-day conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Safa has also been active in domestic Lebanese politics.
It was reported that in 2021, he allegedly warned the judge investigating the devastating Beirut port explosion, pressing the judge to halt inquiries involving Hezbollah-aligned politicians.
His survival of Thursday’s airstrikes is seen as another escalation in Israel’s ongoing efforts to target key Hezbollah operatives.