Israeli warplanes conducted low-altitude flights over Beirut on Tuesday, triggering sonic booms that rattled the city just minutes before Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was scheduled to address his followers. This display of air power coincided with Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, which reportedly killed four Hezbollah operatives.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted buildings in Maifadoun and Khiam used by Hezbollah’s “Southern Front” command. The operatives killed were identified by Hezbollah as Amin Badreddin, Hussein Yassin, Ali Chamseddin, and Hassan Mansour. The attacks came as Hezbollah launched a series of drone strikes into northern Israel, hitting military sites near Acre and injuring civilians in the town of Nahariya due to a malfunctioning interceptor.
The sonic booms over Beirut, occurring just before Nasrallah’s speech, caused panic among residents, with many rushing to open windows to prevent glass from shattering. In the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, supporters were gathered to commemorate the killing of senior commander Fuad Shukr by Israel.
In response to the escalating hostilities, U.S. officials are monitoring the situation closely, with fears that the conflict could expand into a broader regional war. Hezbollah has vowed retaliation for the deaths of its members, and tensions are high following recent high-profile assassinations, including the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
As part of its ongoing conflict with Iranian-backed Hezbollah, Israel has been conducting near-daily strikes since October, when Hamas executed a deadly attack against Israel. The region remains on edge, with both sides poised for further confrontation amid a fragile and volatile security environment.
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