Press review of October 6: unprecedented strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

1. Local News

Local news in Lebanon is marked by an intensification of Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, particularly in the neighborhoods of Haret Hreik, Bourj Al-Barajneh and Mar Mikhael. These attacks, which began several days ago, appear to be aimed at Hezbollah leaders. As reported by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the strikes targeted civilian buildings and infrastructure used by Hezbollah for its operations. Hashem Safi Al-Din, a leading figure within Hezbollah and a candidate to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, is among the main targets of Israeli raids.

Since the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah in late September in a series of Israeli strikes, Israel appears to be focusing its efforts on eliminating senior Hezbollah officials. Although Hezbollah has denied the death of Safi Al-Din, saying it is rumours aimed at demoralising its supporters, communications with him have been interrupted since the strikes. According to information reported by Al-Diyar, the situation is particularly tense in Beirut, where Israeli forces continue to bomb targets believed to be linked to Hezbollah, preventing rescue teams from reaching the affected areas.

The Lebanese government, under the leadership of Najib Mikati, has taken several diplomatic steps to obtain international assistance in the face of these ongoing strikes. According to Al-Anbaa, Mikati sought help from the United Nations and world powers to pressure Israel to stop its bombing and allow rescue teams to reach the victims. However, Israel has maintained its strikes, blocking all access to the devastated areas, particularly around Hadi Nasrallah Avenue and the Mar Mikhael neighborhood. The humanitarian situation is critical, with many victims still trapped under the rubble.

Hezbollah, for its part, has intensified its retaliatory rocket fire, hitting Israeli military targets in northern Israel. Cities such as Haifa and Safed were hit, while strategic military infrastructure was also targeted. According to Al-Diyar, despite the heavy Israeli strikes, Hezbollah continues to resist, maintaining a firm stance in the face of Israeli incursion attempts into southern Lebanon.

2. Regional news

Regionally, the situation in Lebanon is closely linked to the growing tensions between Israel and Iran. After Qassem Soleimani was killed in January 2020 by a US strike, Israel appears to have stepped up its efforts to target Iranian officials involved in regional operations. Ismail Qaani, Soleimani’s successor as head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was reportedly present during the Israeli strikes in Beirut, according to reports by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat. Israel views Iranian involvement in Lebanon as a direct threat to its security and seeks to weaken Hezbollah by disrupting its chain of command.

Iran, for its part, has warned that it will respond harshly to any further Israeli attacks. According to Al-Anbaa, Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, stressed that Iran was ready to retaliate not only against Israel, but also against American interests in the region. This direct threat to the United States has led to an intensification of American military preparations in the region, with the dispatch of General Michael Kurilla to coordinate efforts between Israel and the United States in the face of a possible escalation with Iran.

Tensions on Lebanon’s southern border continue to rise as Israel attempts to penetrate Lebanese territory. According to Al-Diyar, Israeli forces have launched several attempts to advance on several fronts, including in Adaisseh, Kfarkila, Maroun Al-Ras and Yaron. However, Hezbollah forces managed to repel these attempts, inflicting significant casualties on Israeli forces. Hizbullah destroyed several Israeli Merkava tanks and carried out effective counteroffensives against Israeli troops. Military sources quoted by Al-Diyar report that Israel’s attempts to gain ground in southern Lebanon have failed due to Hezbollah’s fierce resistance.

Hizbullah has also stepped up its rocket strikes against Israeli targets in the north of the country, including Haifa, Safed and military installations in the Golan. According to Al-Diyar, Hezbollah strikes managed to hit strategic targets, including a military plant near the town of Karmiel. Israeli casualties, although partially censored by Israeli media, include dozens of soldiers killed or wounded in the past 24 hours, according to military sources.

3. International news

Internationally, the Lebanese crisis is attracting increasing attention, not only because of its implications for regional security, but also because of the scale of the humanitarian crisis. Several Arab nations have responded quickly by sending humanitarian aid to support Lebanon in the face of the destruction caused by Israeli strikes. According to Al-Anbaa, the UAE was among the first to respond to the crisis, establishing an airlift to provide emergency relief to Lebanon. Four planes loaded with medical equipment, food and other essential supplies arrived at Beirut airport, representing a total of $100 million in aid.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati personally thanked the UAE leadership for their support, stressing the importance of Arab solidarity in these times of crisis. The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support Lebanon, while calling for a de-escalation of hostilities to avoid a worsening of the humanitarian situation.

Egypt and Jordan have also sent relief to Lebanon, while other Arab countries are considering providing support as the crisis deepens. Al-Anbaa reports that these actions show the gravity of the situation, not only because of the destruction caused by the Israeli strikes, but also because of the mass exodus of Lebanese and Syrian civilians fleeing the conflict zones.

Internationally, the United States continues to support Israel while calling for a de-escalation of the conflict. However, as Al-Sharq Al-Awsat points out, the US administration has given Israel the green light to intensify its operations against Hezbollah, seeing this as a necessary step to limit Iran’s growing influence in the region. Washington has also provided significant logistical and military support to Israel, although it has not been directly involved in the military operations against Hezbollah.

At the same time, global markets are on alert for the escalation of the conflict. According to Al-Anbaa, oil prices have started to rise due to fears of a disruption in oil exports from the Gulf region. This price hike could have significant repercussions on the global economy, especially if the crisis spreads beyond Lebanon’s borders and involves oil-producing countries like Iran.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, fearing that the conflict could escalate into a major regional war. Diplomatic efforts are underway to try to reach a ceasefire, but the outlook remains uncertain. As Al-Anbaa reports, the United Nations has intensified its calls for de-escalation, urging the parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.