Israel targets Hezbollah strongholds; Iran urges allies to stand firm against Tel Aviv

U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Friday that, if he were in Israel's position, he would consider alternatives to striking Iran’s oil fields.

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Screengrab of videos shows Israels attack on Hezbollah (X/MarioNawfal)

Israel-Iran: Clashes between Hezbollah and Israel intensified on Saturday morning as explosions echoed over Beirut’s southern suburbs. The renewed violence follows Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut, reportedly in an attempt to eliminate a successor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, following his death in a prior Israeli strike.

Early Saturday, foreign media outlets reported blasts and smoke over Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Israeli military had issued evacuation orders for civilians in areas including Burj al-Barajneh and Choueifat districts, urging residents to move to safer locations.

Hezbollah’s response

Hezbollah claimed that Israeli forces attempted to infiltrate the southern Lebanese town of Odaisseh. In a statement, Hezbollah alleged, "Israeli enemy soldiers renewed an attempt to advance towards the vicinity of the municipality in the village of Adaysseh."

International reactions

U.S. President Joe Biden weighed in on the conflict on Friday, hinting that Israel may be considering retaliatory measures against Iran for its alleged missile attack. "If I were in Israel's shoes, I would consider alternatives," Biden said, while reiterating his administration's strong support for Israel.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded by calling for stronger resistance against Israel, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard deputy commander Ali Fadavi warned of retaliatory strikes on Israeli energy and gas installations if Iran were targeted.

Humanitarian crisis

Lebanon is grappling with a mounting humanitarian crisis as the conflict escalates. Over 2,000 people have been killed in the country over the past year, with much of the devastation occurring in recent weeks following Israeli airstrikes.

The Middle East remains embroiled in conflict, further ignited by Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, which claimed over 1,200 lives.