Israel launches deadly strike on Beirut kills 6 after losing 8 soldiers in Hezbollah conflict

The clashes erupted just hours after Iran launched its largest missile strike on Israel to date. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would face consequences for its "big mistake."

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Shantanu Poswal
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Israel (X/AzzatAlsaalem(Representative Image))

Israel-Iran: Hours after Israel confirmed the deaths of eight of its soldiers in cross-border raids, the Israeli military launched a significant airstrike targeting a Hezbollah rescue facility in central Beirut on Thursday. The strike resulted in the deaths of at least six people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. This marked one of the most aggressive retaliations by Israel since the start of its operations against Hezbollah this week.

The violent confrontation came after Hezbollah claimed it successfully repelled an Israeli infiltration into southern Lebanon. Israel’s losses on the Lebanese front represented its deadliest day in a year of clashes with Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran. Hezbollah’s efforts forced Israeli troops to retreat after destroying three Merkava tanks with rockets in Maroun al-Ras village.

Iran’s largest missile attack sparks further escalation

The clashes were further inflamed by Iran, which launched its largest missile attack yet on Israel, sending nearly 200 missiles, including hypersonic weapons, toward Israeli territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly, warning Iran it had made a "big mistake" and promising severe retaliation. Most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted, but two Israeli civilians were injured, and a school was damaged by shrapnel.

Rising death toll in Lebanon

As the Israeli military reported brief incursions into Lebanon, Lebanese authorities confirmed the deaths of 46 people, with 85 others injured by Israeli airstrikes in the last 24 hours. Israel’s aggressive stance comes after the killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in a prior strike. In Syria, Israeli forces also targeted Damascus, killing four people, including a relative of Nasrallah.