Beirut has been rocked by huge explosions, with Israel confirming that it carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah’s main military headquarters in the Lebanese capital. Information is still emerging, but Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is said to have been the target, while this afternoon’s raids were the biggest to hit Beirut since the start of the current conflict in the Middle East, almost a year ago.
In Beirut this afternoon, a series of explosions were heard across the city, leaving multiple huge plumes of dark smoke. Smoke was even visible from the city of Batroun, roughly an hour’s drive north of the Lebanese capital.
Videos posted to social media showed the site of the airstrike, with several buildings entirely collapsed and fires burning below the rubble.
According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, four buildings were destroyed by the airstrikes, while a report from AFP mentions the destruction of six buildings. While emergency responders are already on the scene, there are so far no official reports of the number of casualties.
Already, there are multiple reports — including apparently from Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) radio and Israeli media channels — that the attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs targeted Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, although at this point there is no news as to his whereabouts.
There are reports that Hezbollah is claiming that Nasrallah is safe, while other accounts suggest that Iran — the primary backer of Hezbollah — is assessing whether or not he was harmed.
Previously, an Israeli spokesperson for the IDF, Daniel Hagari, said that the Israeli military conducted a “precise strike” on the Hezbollah headquarters, which was built “under residential buildings in Beirut in order to use them as human shields.”
According to the IDF, the headquarters of Hezbollah served as its central command center and was located within a civilian area in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. Hagari described the headquarters “as the epicenter of Hezbollah’s terror.”
The airstrikes appear to have been approved by Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, while he was on a visit to New York, based on a photo released by his office, showing him and other Israeli officials in a hotel, together with secure communications equipment. The Israeli leader will return home tonight, his office has said. Previously, he was expected back in Israel on Saturday.
Today, Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, telling world leaders that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah would continue.
Another photo, released by Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, claims to show him observing the strike from the Israeli Air Force’s underground command center. Pictured alongside Gallant are the chief of the general staff of the IDF, Herzi Halevi, and the head of the Israeli Air Force, Tomer Bar.
Early accounts suggest the use of penetrating ‘bunker buster’ bombs or missiles in at least some of the airstrikes, which would make sense given the buried nature of the target as well as the large plumes of dark smoke.
Update: 5:15 PM Eastern
There are increasing indications that Nasrallah was killed in the strike, according to the Times of Israel.
“Israel’s Channel 12 news reports the assessment in Israel is that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in tonight’s IDF strike on the terror group’s underground HQ in Beirut,” the publication reported. “Its on-screen headline reads, ‘The assessment in Israel: Nasrallah is eliminated.’”
“A second major Israeli TV station, Channel 13, is slightly more wary, stating, ‘Cautious optimism in Israel: The strike on Nasrallah succeeded.’”
Reuters is reporting that communications with senior Hezbollah leaders have been lost.
Meanwhile, citizens of the Dahiyeh neighborhood are beginning to leave after being warned by the IDF that another strike there was imminent.
Update: 5:30 PM Eastern –
Though there is no official confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, some residents of northwestern Syria are celebrating. Many Syrians condemn Hezbollah’s actions during the long civil war there.
Update: 5:40 PM Eastern –
The IDF warning gave specific locations for residents to avoid.
“In the last hour, we have contacted the residents of the three buildings in the Dahieh—these residents are above and near Hezbollah’s strategic assets and must evacuate immediately for their safety and security,” the IDF said on Telegram.
Update 5:46 PM Eastern –
After the warning, the IDF began striking those buildings, Israel’s Channel 12 said on Twitter.
Update: 5:52 PM Eastern –
The IDF said it was targeting weapons caches in Dahieh.
“The IDF is currently conducting targeted strikes on weapons belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization that were stored beneath civilian buildings in the area of Dahieh in Beirut. Details to follow,” the IDF said on Telegram.
New video emerged of the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
Update: 5:58 PM Eastern –
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement on the Israeli strike.
“I know that you’re seeing reports about a significant strike today in Beirut.
I spoke by phone earlier today to my counterpart in Israel Minister Gallant.
The United States was not involved in Israel’s operation. We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while Israel’s operation was already underway.
As you know this operation took place just a few hours ago and they’re still making assessments, so I don’t have any further information or specifics for you at this time. You’ve heard me say a number of times, an all-out war should be avoided.
Diplomacy continues to be the best way forward — and it’s the fastest way to let displaced Israeli and Lebanese citizens return to their homes on both sides of the border.
I’ll be talking with Minister Gallant again soon and I look to get an update from him when we have that conversation. Thank you.”
Update: 6:29 PM Eastern –
“President Biden has been briefed several times today by his national security team on the latest developments in the Middle East,” according to the latest dispatch from the White House press pool. “He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of U.S. objectives. He has also directed his team to ensure that U.S. embassies in the region take all protective measures as appropriate. The President will continue to receive regular updates.”
Update: 6:59 PM Eastern –
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Israel and the U.S. must be “held accountable” for the attack on Nasrallah’s compound.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned “the brutal and terrorist air attack of the Zionist regime on several residential buildings in the suburbs of Beirut on Friday afternoon,” the official Iranian IRNA news agency reported.
“This barbaric attack, which was carried out with the bombs donated by the American regime to the rebellious Zionist regime, besides being a flagrant violation of the laws and regulations of international law, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity and national security of Lebanon, is an obvious and unconcealable war crime,” said Kanaani. “And therefore, without a doubt, the American regime is also an accomplice along with the Zionist regime and must be held accountable.”
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
This is a developing story. We will update it as more news comes in about this strike.