A new wave of bombings was launched by the Israeli military during the night in the southern part of Beirut, which is regarded as a Hezbollah stronghold.
According to reports, the target of the attack in Dahiyeh was Hashem Safieddine, who is alleged to be the successor of Hassan Nasrallah, killed by an Israeli strike on September 27.
Videos from the strike capture the intensity of the bombing, with thick smoke and fire enveloping everything. Journalists in Beirut reported strong sounds that shook the buildings.
Tonight’s Israeli Airstrikes on the Southern Suburbs of Beirut are said to have Targeted a Deep-Underground Bunker utilized by Hezbollah, hiding inside of which Israeli Officials believe was the New Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hashem Safieddine as well as his Family and… pic.twitter.com/JGMvOpwHxi
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 3, 2024
A notable indicator of the intensity of the Israeli assault is the information transmitted by the French News Agency from a source close to Hezbollah, stating that there were 11 consecutive bombings in the stronghold area of the Lebanese organization.
The information about Safieddine was reported by the New York Times and Axios, citing Israeli officials who said the nighttime attack targeted a meeting of senior Hezbollah officials.
Just hours before the strike, an IDF spokesperson issued an “urgent appeal” to residents of the targeted area to evacuate.
Israel is unleashing its most MASSIVE, most VIOLENT bombardment on Beirut yet.
— sarah (@sahouraxo) October 3, 2024
Every night now, Israel terrorizes Lebanon and massacres our people. pic.twitter.com/b6Tvua7v5Q
“You are near buildings and structures belonging to Hezbollah, and the IDF will attack them in the near future,” he wrote.
Safieddine is the head of Hezbollah’s higher political council and was the number two in the organization’s political wing before Nasrallah’s assassination, who passed away on September 27 following an attack in the same area that the Israeli military bombed early this morning.
It is noted that today the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to speak publicly. He is set to lead the Friday prayer and deliver a sermon that may set the tone for the country’s plans following the attack launched on Tuesday against Israel with dozens of missiles.
#عاجل ‼️ انذار عاجل جديد إلى سكان الضاحية الجنوبية وتحديدًا المتواجدين في المبنى المحدد في الخارطة والواقع في حي حدث بيروت والمباني المجاورة له
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 3, 2024
?أنتم متواجدون بالقرب من منشآت ومصالح تابعة لحزب الله حيث سيعمل ضدها جيش الدفاع على مدى الزمني القريب
?من أجل سلامتكم وسلامة أبناء… pic.twitter.com/I88Q5tvWEZ
Khamenei, who makes the final decision on Iran’s major political issues, may reveal how Tehran plans to respond after Tuesday’s strike with his sermon today.
According to images broadcasted by Iranian media, worshippers have gathered for hours outside the mosque from which Khamenei is expected to speak.
The last time Khamenei led the Friday prayer was in January 2020 after an Iranian missile attack against two bases housing Americans in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.
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