Israeli bombings devastate Beirut and kill Hamas leader

Israel killed Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in devastating bombings in Lebanon, with more than a thousand dead and hundreds of thousands displaced as the conflict intensifies

Or Palestinian militant group Hamas stated that an Israeli air strike killed its leader in Lebanon this Monday (30).

According to Hamas, Fatah Sharif and his family were killed during the bombing of the Al-Buss refugee camp, located in the port city of Tyre, south of Lebanon.

In the last week, Israel carried out several attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area of ​​strong Hezbollah presence. A massive attack on Friday resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallahlongtime leader of Hezbollah.

However, on Monday, the first Israeli airstrike in nearly a year in central Beirut destroyed an apartment building.

Israel had already attacked Lebanon in recent days, resulting in dozens of deaths, and Hezbollah suffered significant losses in its leadership, including the death of Nasrallah.

As Israeli authorities did not immediately comment on the attack.

The bombing destroyed a multi-story residential building in the center of Beirut, as reported by a journalist from Associated Press on site. Videos show ambulances and a crowd gathered near the building in a busy Sunni area filled with businesses.

The airstrike killed at least one person and injured 16 others, according to a security official. Lebanese Civil Defensewho requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The dead person was a member of the al-Jamaa al-Islamiyaa Sunni group allied with Hezbollah.

A leftist Palestinian faction in Lebanon, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinealso stated that three of its members were killed in the attack. The group declared that its military and security commanders, as well as a third member, were killed in the action.

None of these militant groups played a significant role in the conflict between Israel and the Shiite group Hezbollah.

Earlier, Hezbollah confirmed the death of Nabil Kaoukdeputy head of its Central Council, on Saturday, making him the seventh senior leader of the organization killed in Israeli strikes in just over a week. These leaders included founding members of the group who had evaded capture for decades.

Furthermore, Hezbollah confirmed that the commander Ali Garaki was also killed in the attack that killed Nasrallah. Israel said more than 20 Hezbollah militants were killed, including a Nasrallah security official.

O Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 105 people were killed in the country during airstrikes on Sunday. Two bombings near the city of Sidonsouth of Beirut, killed at least 32 peoplewhile attacks in the province of Baalbek Hermel caused 21 deaths and injured at least 47.

Lebanese media reported dozens of attacks in several regions, including Beirut. Israel said its targets were militants, but many civilians were also hit, raising the death toll.

In a video of an attack in Sidon, verified by APa building shook before collapsing. A local TV station asked for prayers for a family trapped under the rubble as rescuers were unable to reach them. The Ministry of Health reported that 14 doctors were killed in two days in the south.

The president Joe Biden said on Sunday that he would soon talk to the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasized that an all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided. “It has to be,” Biden told reporters.

Biden also declared that Nasrallah’s death was a “measure of justice” for Hezbollah victims

In an official note from the White House, the president stated: “Nasrallah and Hezbollah are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans over four decades of terror, in addition to thousands of Israeli and Lebanese civilians.”

The White House national security spokesman, John Kirbycommented that the Israeli attacks “destroyed” Hezbollah’s command structure, but warned that the group will quickly try to reorganize.

“Without Nasrallah, the world is safer,” Kirby said. “But they will try to recover. We are keeping an eye on how they will fill this leadership gap. It will be a challenge, as much of its structure has been eliminated.”

Kirby avoided commenting on whether the Biden administration supports the way Israel has attacked Hezbollah leaders. The White House continues to insist on a temporary 21-day ceasefire, proposed by USA, France and other countries during the UN General Assembly last week.

Meanwhile, the site where Nasrallah was killed still showed signs of the destruction from Friday’s attack, with smoldering rubble. Civilians flocked to view the wreckage or pay their respects.

In response to the Israeli escalation, Hezbollah has intensified its rocket attacks against Israel, firing hundreds of missiles a day, according to the Israeli military. Many were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems.

The Israeli army said its offensives had seriously damaged Hezbollah’s capabilities, stating that the attacks would have been even more intense if Hezbollah had not suffered so many casualties.

Israel says it struck Houthi targets

Israel also stated that on Sunday hit Houthi targets in Yemenin retaliation for a ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion airport. The Israeli army attacked power plants and port facilities in the city of Hodeida. The Houthi media office confirmed that the strikes hit ports and power plants, killing four people and wounding 40 others.

Os Houthis stated that they had taken precautions before the attacks, emptying oil stocks from ports.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that more than 1,030 peopleincluding 156 women e 87 childrenwere killed by Israeli bombings in the last two weeks. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.

Iran-backed Hezbollah gained notoriety after the 2006 conflict against Israel, which ended without a clear victory for either side.

Hezbollah began firing rockets and missiles at Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the war. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allies in what they call the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel.

The conflict continues to intensify, raising fears of a large-scale war in the region.

Israel has stated that it is committed to returning around 60,000 citizens to communities in the north of the country, evacuated almost a year ago. Hezbollah, for its part, has said it will stop rocket attacks only if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, something that remains uncertain despite indirect negotiations led by USA, Qatar e Egypt.

With information from CBS and news agencies*