Israel\u2019s military has struck the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon\u2019s capital, in a dramatic escalation in a year-long period of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lebanese security sources say the strike targeted a top Hezbollah figure, according to multiple reports. At least eight people were killed and 59 were wounded, Lebanese health officials told The Associated Press<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Video published by Reuters shows a crowd gathered around a large building, where a collapsed wall reveals the structure\u2019s interior<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The outlet is reporting the target was Hezbollah’s operations commander Ibrahim Aqil, citing two security sources in Lebanon and Israeli Army Radio<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, missiles from Israel’s air defense system Iron Dome left long streaks of smoke in the air as they intercepted return fire towards northern Israel after the Beirut strike<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is now an open conflict against Hezbollah and southern Lebanon,\u201d military analyst and retired Maj. Gen. David Fraser told CTV News Channel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has demonstrated a distinct switch in strategy this week, demonstrated by \u201ca division of 10,000 soldiers going up to the northern border with Lebanon, (and) the fact that we\u2019ve had the attacks on Hezbollah in the last couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As hostilities increase, so too does the risk of instigating conflicts with other nations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happens if an ambassador to another country gets killed?\u201d Fraser asked. \u201cYou cannot control these things the way you\u2019d like to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He says despite worldwide condemnation of enduring strikes and counterstrikes, ceasefire negotiations are at a standstill. He criticized Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, adding \u201cthey don\u2019t seem to be interested in finding a political solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI worry for the 100 hostages. They\u2019re still stuck in Gaza. It\u2019s almost like we\u2019ve forgotten about them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strike comes after 48 hours of chaos in Lebanon. Earlier this week, an apparently co-ordinated operation targeting communications devices caused them to explode simultaneously<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incident, which has been widely attributed to Israel, killed 12, injured thousands and started countless fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDetonating devices in civilian areas is clearly a war crime,\u201d Lebanon\u2019s Health Minister Firass Abiad Friday<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Israel\u2019s military has struck the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon\u2019s capital, in a dramatic escalation in a year-long period of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah Lebanese security sources say the strike targeted a top Hezbollah figure, according to multiple reports. At least eight people were killed and 59 were wounded, Lebanese health officials told The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":29793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"jnews_post_split":[],"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n