Strikes hit south Beirut after Israeli evacuation calls: AFPTV

BEIRUT: Fresh air strikes hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Saturday, according to AFPTV footage, following calls from the Israeli army for residents to evacuate the area.

Since Tuesday, Israel has carried out several air raids on the city’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah.

AFPTV video showed three plumes of smoke rising over buildings in the area on Saturday morning, and another around midday.

Shortly before the morning attack, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X a call for residents of the Haret Hreik suburb to evacuate.

“You are close to facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, against which the Israeli military will be acting with force in the near future,“ the post said in Arabic, identifying specific buildings and telling residents to move at least 500 metres away.

A similar warning was also issued before the midday strike.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said “the enemy” carried out three air raids in the morning, including one near Haret Hreik.

“The first strike near Haret Hreik destroyed buildings and caused damage in the area,“ it said.

It later reported a separate raid by “enemy aircraft” in the neighbourhood of Chiyah.

Repeated Israeli air strikes on south Beirut have led to a mass exodus of civilians from the area, although some return during the day to check on their homes and businesses.

In southern Lebanon, Israel carried out several strikes on Friday night and early Saturday, according to NNA.

Overnight, Hezbollah also claimed two rocket attacks targeting the headquarters of an infantry battalion in northern Israel.

Since September 23, Israel has ramped up its air campaign in Lebanon, later sending in ground troops following almost a year of limited, cross-border exchanges begun by Hezbollah over the Gaza war.

Lebanese authorities say that more than 3,440 people have been killed since October last year, when Hezbollah and Israel began trading fire.

The conflict has cost Lebanon more than $5 billion in economic losses, with actual structural damage amounting to billions more, the World Bank said on Thursday.