Middle East: Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon firing dozens of rockets at military installations

A barrage of airstrikes on hundreds of targets in south Lebanon was launched by the Israeli military, while Hezbollah carried out rocket attacks on Israel. Already, US and UN officials are warning of further escalation amid fears of a generalized conflict.

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) announced on Saturday night that it had launched two waves of attacks. The first against some 290 targets and the second against 110 facilities across southern Lebanon. At the same time, sirens sounded in dozens of towns in northern Israel, warning of a Hezbollah rocket attack.

About 10 rockets are believed to have passed through Lebanon, while most were intercepted, according to the IDF. On the other hand, Hezbollah said it fired “about 90” and caused fires and damage. Israel’s emergency medical services said one man was slightly injured by shrapnel from a rocket intercepted in a village in the Lower Galilee.

Hezbollah targets Ramat David airbase

Hezbollah posted on its Telegram channel early Sunday morning that it had targeted Israel’s Ramat David airbase near Haifa with dozens of rockets in response to what it called “repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon.”

The airbase is the furthest target the Lebanese group has hit in Israel since fighting began last October, as it is located about 50 kilometers from the Lebanon-Israel border.

Punishment for the murder of Ibrahim Akil

Yesterday, Saturday, Israel closed its northern airspace as it awaited Hezbollah’s retaliation for the killing of Ibrahim Akil, a veteran commander of the elite Radwan unit, along with more than a dozen other fighters.

Among the 37 people killed by the Israeli strike on Friday in a densely populated Beirut neighborhood targeting Ibrahim Akil were 3 children and 7 women.

Because of the attacks and amid fears of further escalation, airlines including Air France, Turkish Airlines and Aegean have cancelled flights to Beirut.

Bombings in Gaza

At the same time, Israel continues its war in Gaza to focus on the north. On Saturday it bombed a school turned shelter, killing at least 22 people and wounding 30 others, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israel’s army said the target was a Hamas base inside the school, without giving details or specifics.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has said the Israeli military have been “extensively striking” Lebanon this evening, after detecting that Hezbollah was “preparing to fire” towards Israel.https://t.co/074cH5YGYi pic.twitter.com/Yp8cHUNhcg

– Sky News (@SkyNews) September 21, 2024

The State Department has called on Americans to leave Lebanon

The U.S. State Department on Saturday called on Americans in Lebanon to leave.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions across Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon while trade options remain available,” it said.

“Right now, commercial flights are available, but with reduced capacity. If the security situation deteriorates, commercial departure options may become unavailable,” it added.

At the same time, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati cancelled his trip to New York, where he was due to participate in high-level UN proceedings, calling for an “end to the horrific massacres” committed by Israel’s armed forces.

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