Israel Claims Responsibility For Attack in Southern Beirut

Israel has claimed responsibility for a targeted strike on the southern Beirut. The attack which began on Tuesday is said to be targeted at the Hezbollah commander responsible for Saturday’s Majdal Shams attack.

According to the Israel Defense ForcesFu’ad Shukr, the “most senior Hezbollah military commander,” was killed in the strike. However, according to the CNN, a senior Lebanese government official confirmed that Shukr survived the attack.Footage shared online showed billows of smoke and the side of a building crumbling. Emergency services rushed to the scene in the area of Haret Hreik in south Beirut, known as Dahiyeh.The neighbourhood is recognised as an area with a large Hezbollah presence and home to many of Lebanon’s Shia community, as well as migrant populations.Gaza’s civil defence and medical officials said on Tuesday that it had recovered bodies of 22 Palestinians found in eastern parts of Khan Younis city after Israeli troops withdrew from the area following a weeks-long offensive.However, the United Nations, Iran and Lebanon among others have condemned the attack with the caretaker prime minister of Lebanon calling it “a criminal act.”