By Muhammad Mamman
The Middle East conflict has entered its seventh day with Israel launching fresh air strikes on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, marking a sharp escalation that has heightened fears of a broader regional war.
Explosions were reported in several parts of the Lebanese capital early on Friday after Israeli warplanes targeted what military officials described as positions linked to the armed group Hezbollah. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over southern districts of the city, an area widely regarded as a stronghold of the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at dismantling what it called “strategic military infrastructure” used by Hezbollah to launch attacks against northern Israel. The bombardment comes as cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters intensify.
Lebanese authorities reported damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in parts of Beirut, though the full extent of casualties remained unclear as emergency services worked through the aftermath.
The latest attacks come amid an expanding regional crisis triggered by the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Gaza Strip, which began earlier this week and has since drawn in actors across the Middle East.
Hezbollah has stepped up rocket and drone attacks on Israeli positions along the border, saying it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded with artillery fire and targeted air strikes across southern Lebanon, raising concerns that the confrontation could evolve into a full-scale war.
International leaders have called for restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilise an already volatile region. Diplomatic efforts are under way by several countries and the United Nations to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Israel’s borders.
Meanwhile, residents in Beirut and southern Lebanon have begun fleeing areas close to potential targets, fearing further strikes as tensions continue to mount across the region.
The situation remains fluid, with military exchanges continuing along the Israel–Lebanon frontier and fears growing that the conflict could widen if additional regional actors become directly involved.
