News Investigators/ A tense calm settled over Beirut on Thursday as residents mourned following a wave of Israeli airstrikes that killed scores and left hundreds injured.
Two Israeli strikes hit the city’s southern suburbs at dawn, just hours after the Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel.
The group said it had shelled the Israeli town of Manara overnight, describing the action as a response to what it called Israel’s violation of a ceasefire.
The escalation follows a large-scale Israeli aerial campaign on Wednesday that targeted central Beirut and its southern suburbs, striking residential and commercial areas, often without warning.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, at least 182 people were killed and around 900 others wounded in the operation.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning, ordering the closure of public institutions and directing flags to be flown at half-mast across the country.
Israel has maintained that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire agreement with Iran announced earlier this week by Donald Trump.
The latest surge in violence comes after Hezbollah vowed retaliation for the killing of Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike in February.
Israel has since intensified its military campaign, carrying out air and ground operations across Lebanon.
Wednesday’s bombardment marked the heaviest assault on Beirut since hostilities resumed, leaving the usually bustling capital subdued, with deserted streets and residents staying indoors amid fears of further escalation.
dpa/NAN
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