Israel conducted airstrikes in Beirut targeting alleged militant infrastructure, while the U.S. cautioned about potential Iranian attacks on universities in Lebanon amid ongoing Middle East conflicts. The Israeli military had entered southern Lebanon, vowing to destroy Lebanese villages in a battle against Hezbollah, an Iran-supported group, sparking the most intense aftermath of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Israel had frequently targeted Beirut, particularly the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs. Residents were warned to evacuate seven neighborhoods in the southern suburbs ahead of imminent strikes.
Reports indicated that Beirut’s southern suburbs were hit by the airstrikes, with no immediate information on damage or casualties. Israel stated it was targeting “terror infrastructure in Beirut” without offering specifics. The military aimed to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to establish a security zone protecting its northern residents. Over a million people fled the region and other parts of the country due to the conflict, with families expressing exhaustion from the ongoing violence.
The conflict escalated after Hezbollah’s attack on Israel in solidarity with Iran, following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The conflict expanded with Iranian strikes on Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf states. Iran issued warnings about potential attacks on U.S. universities in the region after its own universities were targeted. As a precaution, the American University of Beirut transitioned to online classes, and the U.S. embassy in Beirut alerted about possible threats to Lebanese universities, advising U.S. citizens to leave the country.
The violence has led to over 1,300 deaths in Israeli airstrikes, displacing approximately a fifth of Lebanon’s population. Israel issued evacuation orders covering around 15% of Lebanese territory. Despite Lebanese troops retreating to avoid confrontation with Israeli forces, tens of thousands of residents in southern Lebanon, including 9,000 Christians in border towns, remained determined to stay amid the advancing military operations.
In a separate incident, three UN peacekeepers were injured in an explosion near the border in southern Lebanon, with two of them sustaining serious injuries. The cause of the explosion was unknown, with UNIFIL investigating the incident. Earlier in the week, three UNIFIL peacekeepers had lost their lives in a separate incident.