West Asia crisis: US warns against strikes on Beirut airport as IDF pounds 120 sites in Lebanon

The Israeli military launched intense air strikes on southern Lebanon on Monday (Oct 7) as it pounded over 120 sites using more than 100 aircraft within an hour. The strikes came shortly after Israeli forces issued a fresh warning for civilians to immediately vacate the area near specific buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Israel also warned Lebanese civilians against being on the beach or on boats on the coast from the Awali River southward.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted units of “Hezbollah terrorist organisation, including regional units of Hezbollah’s southern front, the Radwan Forces.”

“This operation follows a series of strikes aimed at degrading Hezbollah’s command, control, and firing capabilities, as well as assisting ground forces in achieving their operational goals,” the IDF said.

The raids prompted a warning from the US, asking the IDF to avoid hitting Beirut international airport so that American citizens can leave Lebanon safely.

“We think it’s very important that not only the airport be open, but that the roads to the airport be open, so that American citizens who want to leave can get out, but also citizens of other countries,” the US state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said.

The US since last week has arranged several flights for stranded Americans and their immediate relatives in Lebanon as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalated. The State Department said Monday over 900 US citizens have left the country since late September.

On the other hand, warning alarms were also set ringing in central Israel Monday as Hezbollah launched over 190 rockets.

IDF in a statement said “about five launches were detected that crossed from Lebanon, some of them were intercepted by the Air Force and the rest fell in an open area.” Later, the militant organisation also confirmed it had launched a “barrage” of rockets at Israel intelligence base in Tel Aviv.

(With inputs from agencies)