IDF Strike Kills Two Lebanese Soldiers, Synagogue Damaged in Haifa Attack, Hezbollah Official Killed

An Israeli airstrike on a building in central Beirut killed Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammed Afif according to Lebanese security sources. The strike occurred in the Ras al-Naba’a neighbourhood, not in Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs. Lebanese media also reported an unusual airstrike in the area, which targeted a building possibly housing the Syrian Ba’ath Party offices. Meanwhile, Israel launched multiple airstrikes on southern Beirut’s suburbs, including Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Chiyah and Haret Hreik, after issuing evacuation warnings. Hezbollah retaliated by firing a barrage of rockets into northern Israel, targeting Haifa and its surrounding areas. The Israeli military intercepted some of the rockets and reported damage to a synagogue in Haifa. Additionally, three suspects were arrested after flares were fired near Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence, an incident condemned by Israeli officials as terrorism. On the same day, Israeli attacks across Gaza killed 96 Palestinians, prompting outrage from Gaza’s media office.