Beirut, Lebanon – Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes on Sunday as multiple explosions rocked the Lebanese capital. The sudden escalation came after Israel warned of imminent strikes on sites linked to the financial operations of Hezbollah, urging people to evacuate those areas immediately.
Witnesses reported hearing at least ten blasts with dense plumes of black smoke billowing over the city. A building in the Chiyah neighborhood, located in the southern suburbs of Beirut, was reduced to rubble. Eyewitnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the few people present in the area had evacuated just before the explosion.
While there was no immediate information on casualties or the exact cause of the blasts, panicked residents clogged the streets, causing traffic jams as they attempted to reach safer neighborhoods.
An Israeli military spokesperson announced on social media platform X, “We will begin attacking infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association – get away from it immediately.”
Al-Qard al-Hassan, identified by the U.S. as managing the finances of Iran-backed Hezbollah, operates more than 30 branches across Lebanon, including 15 in densely populated areas of central Beirut and its suburbs. Neither the organization, Hezbollah, nor the Lebanese government has issued a statement regarding the attacks.
When questioned about targeting these branches, a senior Israeli intelligence official stated, “The purpose of this strike is to target the ability of Hezbollah’s economic function both during the war and afterwards to rebuild and rearm… on the day after.”
Rising Tensions and Cross-Border Conflict
Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified a year ago when Hezbollah began launching rockets in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. In early October, Israel launched a ground assault inside Lebanon aiming to stabilize the border region for its citizens who had fled rocket attacks in northern Israel.
Israel has intensified its military campaigns in both Gaza and Lebanon, following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which had initially raised hopes for ceasefire negotiations to end over a year of conflict.
With the U.S. elections approaching, regional officials and diplomats suggest that Israel is seeking to secure its borders and prevent rivals from regrouping through military operations. Israel is also reportedly preparing to retaliate for an Iranian missile barrage earlier this month, though Washington has urged restraint regarding Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel claimed to have struck Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and an underground weapons workshop in Beirut, with fighter jets reportedly killing three Hezbollah commanders. Hezbollah has not commented on these strikes but stated it had fired missiles at Israeli forces in Lebanon and a base in northern Israel.
An Israeli military statement reported that a 41-year-old colonel was killed and another officer wounded in combat in northern Gaza on Sunday. Israeli media outlets Channel 12 and Kan suggested an explosive device detonated under a tank.
Humanitarian Impact
Rescue efforts continue in the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahiya after an Israeli attack on Saturday that left 87 people dead or missing, according to the health ministry—a significant death toll from a single attack in recent months. The strike came two weeks into a major assault around Jabalia, just south of Beit Lahiya, where Israel claims its troops are targeting remaining Hamas fighters.
Israel stated the strike hit a Hamas target, disputing an earlier death toll of 73 released by the Hamas media office.
Since the attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants on October 7 last year, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages, Israel’s military response in Gaza has reportedly left over 42,500 people dead and displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, according to Palestinian officials.
In Lebanon, officials estimate that over the past year more than 2,400 people have been killed and over 1.2 million displaced due to the conflict. Israeli authorities report that 59 people have been killed in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights during the same period.
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Lebanese flee as blasts hit Beirut, Israel warns of more strikes
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