What's happened
On October 10, 2024, Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut resulted in 22 deaths and 117 injuries, marking the deadliest attack in the city since hostilities escalated. The strikes targeted a residential area, reportedly aiming at a Hezbollah figure, Wafiq Safa, who survived the attack.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the airstrikes on Beirut were unprecedented in their targeting of the city center, with 22 fatalities reported, including a family of eight. The strikes were aimed at Wafiq Safa, a senior Hezbollah figure, who survived the attack. The Guardian also highlighted the use of US-manufactured JDAMs, raising concerns about the implications for US military support to Israel. SBS reported that the strikes were part of a broader escalation in violence, with over 1,200 deaths in Lebanon since the conflict reignited. The UN has expressed alarm over the safety of its peacekeepers, with reports of Israeli forces firing on UN positions, as noted by both The Guardian and SBS.
How we got here
The conflict in Lebanon has intensified since Hezbollah's support for Hamas during the Gaza war began a year ago. Israel has escalated its military actions, particularly targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and now central Beirut.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.