An Israeli airstrike caused a massive explosion near Beirut’s airport on Monday, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air from the Dahiyeh neighborhood in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. Despite the blast, operations at Beirut’s international airport were not disrupted, with planes continuing to take off and land.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, with military spokesperson Avichay Adraee stating that it was a precision attack in Beirut. However, further details about the strike or its specific target were not immediately available, leaving it unclear if Adraee was referring to the same incident in southern Beirut.
The strike comes as Israel commemorates the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, which sparked the ongoing conflict. In Israel, hundreds of mourners gathered at the site of the Nova festival, where many lives were lost last year. A memorial ceremony was also held at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where a large number of residents were either killed or abducted by Hamas during the attacks.
Meanwhile, the war between Israel and Gaza has taken a devastating toll, with more than 41,000 people killed and a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. Over the weekend, Israeli forces launched a new offensive in northern Gaza, striking several locations, including a hospital compound overnight.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the conflict has now spread across “seven fronts,” identifying Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, as major players. Israel’s Defense Minister told CNN that “everything is on the table” in response to last week’s missile barrage from Iran.
In the past few days, Israel has significantly ramped up airstrikes on Beirut, particularly targeting Hezbollah strongholds. These intense bombings have resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people in Lebanon. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on Haifa, wounding five people in the northern Israeli city, marking the first such attack on Haifa during this conflict.
