Israel claims 250 Hezbollah fighters killed; The border between Lebanon and Syria is closed after an airstrike

Hezbollah has not yet released any information about its victims. Meanwhile, Israel has carried out a series of powerful airstrikes overnight in the southern suburbs of Beirut, one of which disrupted the crucial border crossing between Lebanon and Syria that has become a lifeline for dozens of thousands of people fleeing the relentless Israeli bombardment.

The Israeli military did not provide immediate details on specific targets; However, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the area experienced more than ten consecutive airstrikes.

The Israeli military confirmed that an earlier attack in Beirut resulted in the death of Mohammed Rashid Skafi, a senior member of Hezbollah’s communications division. Skafi was described as having close ties to senior Hezbollah officials and had held his position since 2000.

In a separate incident near the Lebanese-Syrian border, airstrikes led to the closure of the busy Masnaa border crossing, located approximately 60 km (37 miles) east of Beirut. Associated Press images showed the consequences, with large craters along the road. Stranded motorists were seen exiting their vehicles and carrying their belongings on foot to travel the damaged route.

In the past two weeks, tens of thousands of people have fled violence in Lebanon and crossed into Syria in search of safety. These airstrikes followed statements by an Israeli military spokesman suggesting that Hezbollah had attempted to move military equipment through the border crossing, according to Reuters.

The recent military actions coincide with Israel urging residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate areas outside a United Nations-declared buffer zone amid rising tensions with Hezbollah. Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon on Tuesday has already sparked clashes with Hezbollah fighters, further escalating the conflict.

This escalation follows a series of attacks that have killed several prominent Hezbollah figures, including its long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah. In a related diplomatic development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut on Friday to discuss the ongoing conflict with Lebanese officials. This visit comes after Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel, marking a major escalation in hostilities and raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.

During Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the missile strikes against Israel and expressed his readiness to take further military action if necessary, addressing thousands of worshipers at the Mosalla Mosque, which was adorned with a large Palestinian flag.

The recent attack that cut off the Masnaa border crossing is the first case of blocking this critical route since the conflict broke out. According to Lebanese General Security, more than 256,000 Syrian citizens and approximately 82,000 Lebanese citizens crossed into Syria between September 23 and 30, coinciding with the intensification of Israeli bombing in southern and eastern Lebanon. While several border crossings remain operational, Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works confirmed that all operate under state supervision.

The conflict has intensified since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of another 250. In parallel, the Israeli army has carried out operations in the occupied West Bank, including a recent attack in Tulkarem, a militant stronghold, which left 18 people dead in a refugee camp.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, more than 41,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives in Gaza, and a substantial portion of those victims were women and children, according to local health authorities. In Lebanon, almost 2,000 deaths have been recorded since September 23, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

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