Israel announced Friday that it had attacked Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut, with media reports saying a massive explosion and plumes of orange and black smoke rose above the horizon.
The attack came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, said Israel had “the right to eliminate the Hezbollah threat on its northern border and return its people safely to their homes.” Ta.
“Israel has been enduring this intolerable situation for almost a year, and I'm here today to say, well, enough is enough,” he said.
Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said Israel “targeted a precise attack on the central headquarters of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which has become the epicenter of Hezbollah's terrorism.”
Hagari accused Hezbollah of building its headquarters “intentionally beneath a residential building in the center of Dahiyeh, Beirut, as part of Hezbollah's strategy to use the Lebanese people as human shields.”
He did not say whether Hezbollah's top commander, Hassan Nasrallah, was targeted in the attack or was at the scene.
The attack came amid Israel's rejection of U.S. and international efforts to secure a 21-day ceasefire. It is unclear whether Hezbollah is willing to accept a ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel across their common border in the wake of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, but fighting has escalated dramatically in recent weeks.
developing
