Israel launches airstrikes on Beirut, warns Lebanon of severe consequences

BEIRUT: Israel issued a stern warning to Lebanon on Saturday, declaring that the country would face a “very heavy price” if it failed to restrain the Hezbollah group. This warning came as Israeli forces intensified their military operations, launching airstrikes on Beirut and conducting a rare helicopter raid deep into Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.

According to reports, the escalation follows Hezbollah’s retaliation earlier in the week after Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The cross-border conflict has since drawn Lebanon further into the ongoing Middle East war.

On Saturday morning, heavy Israeli bombardment left several buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut reduced to rubble and twisted metal. Reuters video footage showed the aftermath, with smoke rising from destroyed structures. The strikes reportedly followed an evacuation order for civilians in the targeted areas.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz addressed Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun in a statement, warning that Lebanon would pay a “very heavy price” if its government did not enforce control over Hezbollah. The statement underscored the heightened tensions and the potential for further escalation in the region.

In addition to the airstrikes, Israeli forces carried out a deadly airborne raid in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, resulting in the deaths of 41 individuals. The raid marked a rare incursion deep into Lebanese territory.

The United Nations and Ghana have condemned an attack that wounded three peacekeepers, describing it as a “war crime.” The incident has drawn international criticism and raised concerns about the safety of UN personnel operating in the region.

The situation remains tense as both sides exchange threats and military actions, with the risk of further escalation looming over Lebanon and the broader Middle East.