[News] Israeli jets carpet bomb Beirut in last-minute offensive before potential truce

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Israeli jets carpet bomb Beirut in last-minute offensive before potential
truce

Israel destroyed several buildings in the Beirut southern suburb less than
an hour after striking the heart of the capital

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

NOV 26, 2024 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/israeli-jets-carpet-bomb-beirut-in-last-minute-offensive-before-potential-truce
(Photo credit: X)

Israel launched heavy and destructive air raids on Beirut and its southern
suburb on 26 November, ahead of a cabinet session in which Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to greenlight a potential ceasefire
deal
<https://thecradle.co/articles/lebanon-ceasefire-a-grave-mistake-israels-ben-gvir-warns>
with Hezbollah.

The attacks caused massive explosions and huge clouds of smoke were seen
rising out of numerous locations across Beirut’s southern suburb on Tuesday
afternoon, as shown in video footage on social media.

Several residential buildings have been completely destroyed by the
strikes, which came after issued evacuation orders for over 20 buildings in
the suburb. The Israeli army claimed it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets.

An Israeli strike completely leveled a building in central Beirut’s Nuwairi
area less than an hour before the attacks on the suburb began.

“A fierce airstrike carried out on Tuesday by Israeli enemy warplanes
targeted a building near Khatem al-Anbiyaa Mosque in Al-Nuwairi area of
Beirut,” Lebanon’s *National News Agency* (NNA
<https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/justice-law/742039/israeli-airstrike-destroys-building-near-khatem-al>)
reported.

According to an NNA correspondent, the raid on Nuwairi targeted a
four-story building housing displaced people. At least seven were killed
and 37 wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Operations to remove
rubble are ongoing, and the toll is expected to rise.

The intense bombing comes ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire
<https://thecradle.co/articles/us-france-ready-to-announce-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-despite-outstanding-issues-report>agreement
between Hezbollah and Israel, which US and Israeli officials say is close.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to approve the deal during a security
cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Beirut has expressed cautious optimism, as Netanyahu has consistently
blocked a deal from going through in Gaza for over a year.

The potential agreement
<https://thecradle.co/articles/hamas-welcomes-potential-lebanon-ceasefire-hezbollah-stood-by-palestine>
focuses on implementing UN Resolution 1701. As part of the deal, Hezbollah
is required to withdraw beyond the Litani River, with the Lebanese army
deploying its troops to the south and the Israeli army withdrawing its
invading forces from Lebanon. This is all meant to happen within a 60-day
period.

Beirut has vowed not to accept anything that violates Lebanon’s
sovereignty. Yet Tel Aviv has signaled that it wishes to resume attacking
Lebanon if it sees fit – to prevent Hezbollah
<https://thecradle.co/articles/nearly-10000-buildings-destroyed-by-hezbollah-in-israels-north-report>
from “rebuilding.”
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