Israel strikes Lebanon's capital Beirut for first time in five days | BBC News

Summary

Israel has resumed air strikes on southern Beirut, targeting Hezbollah positions for the first time in five days, amidst escalating conflict in the region. The Israeli military reports over 140 strikes on Hezbollah in the last 24 hours. Concurrently, aid has begun entering Gaza following a strongly worded letter from U.S. officials warning of potential military funding cuts unless humanitarian issues are addressed. In southern Lebanon, heavy strikes have resulted in casualties, including the mayor of Naatia. The situation remains tense, with concerns over security and the distribution of aid amid ongoing military operations.

Takeaways

• ✈️ Israel has conducted airstrikes in southern Beirut, targeting a Hezbollah underground warehouse after a five-day pause.
• 💥 The Israeli military claims to have struck over 140 Hezbollah targets in the past 24 hours.
• 🚨 Residents in one building were ordered to evacuate immediately due to the strikes.
• 📦 Humanitarian aid has begun to enter northern Gaza, following a strong warning from the U.S. to Israel regarding aid access.
• ⏳ The U.S. has threatened to cut military funding to Israel if the humanitarian issues in Gaza are not addressed within 30 days.
• 🚛 Recent aid shipments included 30 loads of flour and fuel from Israel to Gaza, with further shipments anticipated.
• 🌍 U.N. officials have expressed growing alarm over the lack of aid entering Gaza, with 400,000 people still in need.
• ⚖️ U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the need for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law amid deteriorating conditions in Gaza.
• 👥 Israel continues to accuse Hamas of misusing previously allowed aid, contributing to complex security concerns.
• 🏙️ The mayor of the southern Lebanese town of Naatia has reportedly been killed in the recent Israeli airstrikes.

Q & A

What recent military action did Israel take against Hezbollah in Lebanon?

Israel carried out air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting an underground warehouse used by Hezbollah for the first time in five days.

What was the Israeli military's response regarding the evacuation of civilians?

The Israeli military issued an evacuation order early in the morning, instructing residents of one building to leave immediately.

How many Hezbollah targets did the Israeli military reportedly strike in the last 24 hours?

The Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 140 Hezbollah targets in just the last 24 hours.

What prompted the recent influx of aid into Gaza?

A strongly worded letter from U.S. officials to the Israeli government expressed concerns over humanitarian aid delays and warned of potential cuts to military funding unless issues were addressed.

What types of aid were reported to have entered Gaza recently?

On Sunday, around 30 lorry loads of flour and fuel entered Gaza, followed by another 12 lorry loads of aid a day later through the main northern crossing.

What were the concerns expressed by U.S. officials regarding the situation in Gaza?

U.S. officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza and reminded Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian law.

What challenges do humanitarian workers face in delivering aid to Gaza?

Humanitarian workers face challenges such as criminal gangs, smuggling, looting, and an insecure situation in Gaza that complicates the delivery of aid.

What incident occurred in the southern town of Naatia, Lebanon?

Reports indicated that the mayor of Naatia was among those killed in Israeli air strikes that targeted a local authority building during heavy bombardments.

Why did Israel pause its air strikes on Beirut before resuming them?

Israel paused its air strikes on Beirut at the request of American officials, likely due to concerns over the humanitarian situation and international pressure.

What has been the general response from the Israeli military regarding the use of aid by Hamas?

The Israeli military accused Hamas of using the aid that previously entered Gaza for military purposes, which has been a consistent position held by Israel.