In the early hours of Sunday, Beirut experienced one of the most severe rounds of air strikes in the ongoing conflict, according to local media reports.
Explosions were heard throughout the city, with some strikes reportedly landing near the airport, where flights are evacuating hundreds of foreign nationals.
Photographs show flames and smoke rising from multiple locations in the city, including the Dahiyeh neighborhood in southern Beirut.
The Israeli military has also continued its operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
An airstrike on a mosque in Gaza has led to significant casualties, with reports indicating at least five fatalities according to Reuters, while Al Jazeera cites eyewitness accounts of up to 18 deaths.
Israeli officials claim the mosque was being used by Hamas as a command center but stated they took measures to minimize civilian harm.
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On Saturday night, Israeli strikes targeted southern Beirut and its outskirts, leading to urgent responses from ambulances as local media reported “very violent” strikes.
Footage from Agence France-Presse captured plumes of smoke rising from the affected areas, highlighting the intensity of the military actions.
Israeli officials have issued statements vowing to retaliate against Iran following a recent missile attack attributed to Iranian forces.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari of the Israeli military stated that the country would respond at a time and place of its choosing.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any Israeli attack would be met with “even stronger” retaliation.
Tensions have escalated diplomatically as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for calling for a halt to arms deliveries to Israel, labeling Macron’s stance as a “disgrace.”
Macron’s office later described Netanyahu’s remarks as “excessive” but reaffirmed France’s friendship with Israel.
Additionally, Irish President Michael Higgins condemned Israel’s demand for UN peacekeepers to vacate their positions in southern Lebanon, calling it “outrageous.”
The Israeli Defense Forces have requested the peacekeepers operating along the “blue line” between Israel and the Golan Heights to relocate, further complicating the already tense situation in the region.
As military actions intensify, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, raising urgent calls for dialogue and intervention from the international community.