Israel again targets Beirut after raiding Hezbollah strongholds

Israel calls up more brigades, hinting at deeper incursions into southern Lebanon

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BEIRUT - Israel once again attacked Beirut on Oct 1, with the state-run news agency reporting air strikes on two buildings in the Lebanese capital's densely populated southern suburbs, just hours after Israeli commandos raided Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon.

Iran was set to respond to these attacks on Hezbollah by launching a ballistic missile into Israel, according to a senior White House official.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said a “violent enemy strike” pummelled a building near the Zahraa Hospital in Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold, and then another building near the Kuwaiti embassy minutes later.

The air strikes on Beirut came hours after skirmishes were reported between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, marking the start of an uncertain new phase of Israel's decades-long conflict with Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said the operations in Lebanon began on the night of Sept 30 and involved paratroops and commandos from the elite 98th division, which was deployed to the northern front two weeks ago from Gaza where they had been fighting for months.

It said its air force and artillery supported ground troops engaged in “limited, localised and targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanese villages that posed “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”.

The raids went only a short distance over the border, an Israeli security official said, adding that no direct clashes with Hezbollah fighters were reported.

But the Israeli military said on Oct 1 that it was calling up four additional reserve brigades for “operational missions”, suggesting plans for deeper incursions into southern Lebanon.