Israel strikes Beirut and Gaza following 'assassination' attempt on Netanyahu
Since the conflict in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israeli towns, the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants have been engaged in combat across the Lebanese border.
Annesha Barua
October 20th 2024 08:16 AM
PTC News Desk: On Saturday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s arms facilities in Beirut and Hamas installations in Gaza, following an assassination attempt involving a drone aimed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
Key Details of the Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas Conflict:
- A drone was launched towards Prime Minister Netanyahu's home in Caesarea, located approximately 20 kilometers south of Haifa, an area frequently targeted by Hezbollah. Fortunately, Netanyahu and his wife were not home at the time, and no injuries were reported. In response to the attack, Netanyahu stated, “The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake.”
- Following the drone attack, Israeli forces retaliated by striking Hezbollah arms facilities in southern Beirut. This came after the Lebanese militant group fired rockets into northern Israel. According to the Israeli military, the strikes were focused on several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and an intelligence command center.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified after the Gaza war began, triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on Israeli towns on October 7 of last year. Since then, clashes across the Israel-Lebanon border have escalated.
- Israeli airstrikes on Saturday also targeted Gaza, where 73 people were reported killed in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Gaza’s civil defense agency said that Israeli military operations have killed over 400 people in northern Gaza in the past two weeks.
- Tensions have risen further since the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday. In an effort to undermine Hamas’s control, Israeli planes dropped leaflets over southern Gaza with Sinwar’s image, warning: “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza.”
The situation in the region remains volatile as Israel continues its operations against Hezbollah and Hamas, with both sides engaging in ongoing hostilities.