Israeli Airstrikes Target Southern Beirut and Nabatieh
On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched airstrikes on the densely populated southern outskirts of Beirut, marking the first significant bombardment in recent days. In a devastating escalation, the strikes also targeted the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 16 individuals, including the city’s mayor, according to reports from Lebanese officials.
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the assault, stating that the attack on Nabatieh was a deliberate attempt to disrupt a local government meeting. Among those killed were Nabatieh’s mayor, Ahmad Kahil, along with several members of a local relief team that had collaborated with the United Nations for over a year. The strikes led to injuries for at least 52 other individuals, as reported by both U.N. and Lebanese sources. The airstrikes specifically targeted the city’s municipal building, as confirmed by the Lebanese health ministry.
The humanitarian consequences of these strikes were highlighted by the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, who lamented, “Health care facilities, mosques, historical markets, residential complexes, and now government buildings are being reduced to rubble.” His statement underscored the profound impact that the conflict is having on civilian infrastructure and the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
In response to the attacks, the Israeli military asserted that their operations aimed to strike “dozens of Hezbollah terrorist targets” located in the vicinity. They claimed these included command centers and weapons storage facilities that were allegedly situated adjacent to civilian infrastructure, raising serious concerns about the safety of non-combatants in the area.
Tragically, the mayor of Nabatieh, Ahmad Kahil, was reportedly killed while inspecting the damage from prior airstrikes. His passing marks a significant loss for the local community, which had been relying on his leadership during these turbulent times.
