Israel targets Beirut sites linked to Hezbollah finance
Israeli fighter jets and drones conducted 11 airstrikes in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on Sunday, targeting, among other sites, the offices of the financial association Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which collaborates with Hezbollah. Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, reported that an Israeli bulldozer destroyed the mission's control tower.
21 October 2024 06:39
The Israeli Air Force planes attacked a facility belonging to the Shiite organization Hezbollah, located about 500 metres from Rafic Hariri International Airport in southern Beirut. According to eyewitnesses, thick black smoke was rising from the site of the bombing.
In the past few hours—as reported by Reuters— Israeli fighter jets and drones carried out 11 airstrikes on the capital of Lebanon. Four targeted airstrikes were directed at buildings housing the offices of the financial association Al-Qard Al-Hassan. This institution supports Hezbollah by managing its finances. In Lebanon, it has over 30 branches, including 15 in Beirut.
On Sunday evening, Israel announced it would conduct precise airstrikes on facilities in Lebanon belonging to financial institutions associated with Hezbollah. Residents of the Lebanese capital were urged to evacuate areas near these facilities—said Daniel Hagerty, spokesperson for the Israeli army.
Lebanese counterattack
Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported that on Sunday, around 200 rockets were launched from Lebanese territory towards northern Israel. Militants of the Shiite organization Hezbollah reportedly carried out the shelling. Several rockets were launched towards Haifa, the largest port city in northern Israel.
On September 23, Israel launched a military operation called "Northern Arrows" against Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon. As a result of one of the airstrikes on September 27 in Beirut, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly killed. Due to the conflict, over a million residents have fled from Lebanon.
Israeli bulldozer destroyed peacekeeping mission's control tower
Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, reported that an Israeli bulldozer destroyed the mission's control tower. He said that Attacks on the peacekeepers should be condemned in an interview with Nove station.
The UNIFIL spokesperson emphasized that the situation is "disturbing." During a live conversation on the programme "Che tempo che fa," Tenenti highlighted that although Israeli authorities have appealed to UNIFIL to withdraw from their positions in southern Lebanon, "we have decided to stay. We have a UN Security Council mandate."
"It is important to stay and help the civilian population," said the spokesperson, deeming an international presence necessary in Lebanon.
