The Israel Air Force carried out another wave of strikes on Friday in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, targeting multiple command centers used by Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military said.
The attacks come amid more than 500 strikes on targets in Lebanon since the start of the operation, the IDF added.
According to the IDF, the targets included an IRGC Air Force command center, a command center used by Hezbollah’s naval unit, one used by the group’s financial unit, and another used by Hezbollah’s Operating Council. The military said the sites were used to plan and execute attacks against Israel and its civilians.
The strikes came as Israel widened operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon in parallel with its broader campaign against Iran and its regional allies under Operation Roaring Lion. Reuters reported that Friday’s attacks were part of heavy Israeli bombardment in southern Beirut after evacuation warnings were issued to residents in parts of the capital’s southern suburbs.
The IDF said it took steps before the strike to reduce civilian harm, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.
"The IDF will continue to operate with determination against Hezbollah following the terrorist organization’s decision to deliberately attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terrorist regime," the military said.
Ghana's UN peacekeeping HQ in Lebanon said hit by missile
Shortly after the IDF released its update, the headquarters of Ghana's United Nations peacekeeping battalion in Lebanon was hit by a missile, Reuters cited Ghana's armed forces as saying, without providing additional information.
IDF chief stresses 'major opportunity,' says IDF preparing for 'prolonged campaign' in Lebanon
During a situational assessment on Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military would continue strengthening defenses along the northern border while pressing ahead with operations against Hezbollah.
Speaking with local authority heads from northern communities after the assessment, Zamir said Israeli troops were operating “on the front line of the communities, along all borders, in the Golan Heights and in Lebanon,” and described the effort as part of a forward line of defense meant to reinforce security for residents in the north.
Zamir also tied Hezbollah directly to Tehran, saying, “Hezbollah and the Iranian regime are one and the same,” and vowing that Israel would keep up its offensive efforts. “We will seize every opportunity to strike Hezbollah, advance achievements, and remove the threat. We will not relinquish the disarmament of Hezbollah,” he said, adding that the army was preparing for a prolonged campaign.
Calling the current fighting “a major opportunity,” Zamir said the IDF would do “everything to seize the opportunity and bring about a change in the security situation,” while praising northern residents and local leaders for their “patience and perseverance.”
IRGC officers, Hezbollah supporters flee Beirut
The latest Beirut strikes follow over 20 strikes carried out on Hezbollah command centers and weapons-related infrastructure in the Lebanese capital since Hezbollah joined the conflict on Monday. The fighting has fueled fears of a broader regional war, with Dahiyeh once again emerging as a central target because of its role as a Hezbollah stronghold.
Almost 500,000 Hezbollah supporters have been evacuated from their regular living spaces in southern Lebanon, Beirut, and some other spots, The Jerusalem Post reported earlier Friday.
Meanwhile, several dozen IRGC officers have fled Beirut over the past 48 hours, according to an Axios report, fearing that they will be targeted in Israeli strikes, which have increased in frequency in the Lebanese capital.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and James Genn contributed to this report.