Beirut Airport Road Targeted in Intense Israeli Airstrikes

Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut overnight and into Sunday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) describing them as "pinpoint" attacks. However, these strikes have left Lebanese civilians in the capital in a state of fear. According to Financial Times and other sources, this has been the heaviest night of bombing on the Lebanese capital to date.

Fireballs and Smoke Plumes

Throughout the night, large fireballs were seen, and towering smoke plumes were visible at dawn. The IDF stated that it also targeted multiple weapons depots and Hezbollah infrastructure across the country. The IDF has claimed to have hit 150 Hezbollah targets in the past 24 hours, including a building near a crucial road leading to Lebanon's international airport.

Lebanese National Carrier Continues Flights

Despite the ongoing airstrikes, the Lebanese national carrier, Middle East Airlines (MEA), has continued to operate passenger flights in and out of Beirut. An Al Jazeera correspondent reported seeing a plane take off even as airstrikes were happening near the Rafic Hariri International airport. The local airline has refused to shut down the airport despite the daily threats they face.

Eye Witness Account

An Australian eyewitness recounted her experience of being on a plane that was preparing to take off when the major bombing near the airport took place. She described hearing a lot of bombing close to the airport as they were about to take off.

Impact of the Strikes

The Financial Times confirmed that last night's strikes included a building near the road to Beirut’s airport, which caused large fires. Smoke was still visible from the area in the morning. The Lebanese health ministry reported that Saturday's strikes resulted in 23 deaths and 93 injuries. However, the ministry did not disclose the number of civilians and combatants among the casualties.

Airport Access Road Bombing Could Affect Evacuations

The bombing of a key airport access road in the capital could potentially impact evacuation efforts. Some American citizens and dual nationals in Lebanon have expressed feeling 'abandoned' by the US State Department due to its slow efforts in facilitating their exit from the country.

Hezbollah Retaliates

In response to the Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah has been targeting the major Israeli port city of Haifa, launching over 110 rockets at northern Israel on Saturday alone. The IDF reported that another 30 missiles were fired in an overnight barrage at Kiryat Shmona. The IDF continues to urge Lebanese villages in the south, which are in the zone of heavy fighting, to evacuate to the north.

Bottom Line

The ongoing conflict and airstrikes in Beirut have led to a state of panic among civilians. The bombing of a key airport access road could potentially hinder evacuation efforts, and the continued operation of the Lebanese national carrier amidst the bombing raises safety concerns. What are your thoughts on this situation? Please share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.