Hezbollah Spokesman Killed in Israeli Beirut Airstrike “`

An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on Sunday killed Hezbollah’s chief spokesperson, according to a militant group official. Earlier, Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip reportedly killed at least 12 people, where Israel has been engaged in conflict for over a year.

The latest attacks followed warnings from Lebanese officials. Israel also bombed buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold, after issuing evacuation orders.

Hezbollah’s head of media relations, Mohammed Afif, was killed in a strike targeting the Arab Socialist Baath party’s office in central Beirut, according to an unnamed Hezbollah official.

Afif maintained a high profile following the September outbreak of war between Israel and Hezbollah and the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was also killed in an Israeli airstrike. Last month, Afif prematurely ended a Beirut press conference before Israeli strikes began.

A rare strike on central Beirut

An Associated Press photographer at the scene observed four fatalities and four injured individuals, though official casualty counts remain unavailable. People were seen fleeing the area. There was no statement from the Israeli military.

“I was asleep and woke to the sound of the strike, people screaming, cars, and gunfire,” said Suheil Halabi, an eyewitness. “I was startled. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this so close.”

The previous Israeli strike in Beirut occurred on Oct. 10, resulting in 22 deaths across two locations.

Hezbollah initiated rocket, missile, and drone attacks on Israel following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, which ignited the Gaza war. Israel retaliated with airstrikes in Lebanon, escalating the conflict to full-scale war in September. Israeli forces invaded Lebanon on October 1.

Hezbollah has continued daily attacks, launching dozens of projectiles into Israel, extending their range to central parts of the country. A Saturday rocket barrage on Haifa damaged a synagogue and injured two civilians.

The conflict in Lebanon has claimed the lives of numerous civilians, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, with over 1.2 million displaced. The number of Hezbollah fighters among the dead is unknown.

In Israel, Hezbollah’s attacks have killed at least 76 people, including 31 soldiers, and forced approximately 60,000 people to flee northern communities.

Overnight strikes in central Gaza kill 12

Israeli strikes in Nuseirat and Bureij, densely populated Gaza refugee camps established long ago, killed six and four people, respectively.

Two more fatalities occurred in a strike on Gaza’s main north-south highway, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, which received all 12 bodies.

The war between Israel and Hamas commenced after Palestinian militants launched a large-scale attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and numerous kidnappings. Approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with about a third presumed dead.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports around 43,800 Palestinian deaths, without distinguishing between combatants and civilians, noting that women and children account for over half of the fatalities.

Around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have lost access to essential services, and their infrastructure has been devastated by Israeli bombardment and ground operations.

Israeli police arrest 3 after flares fired at Netanyahu’s home

Israeli police arrested three suspects after flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea.

Netanyahu and his family were absent when two flares were launched overnight, resulting in no injuries. A previous Hezbollah drone attack also occurred while Netanyahu’s family was away.

Police did not release details about the suspects, though officials pointed towards domestic political opponents of Netanyahu. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack and warned against escalating public violence.

Netanyahu has faced months of widespread protests. Critics blame him for security failures that allowed the October 7 attack, and for the government’s handling of the release of hostages held in Gaza. Protests demanding a ceasefire and the return of hostages took place in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Israeli minister looks to revive polarizing judiciary overhaul

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin cited the attack on Netanyahu’s home to advocate for restarting the controversial judiciary overhaul, which had sparked months of protests before the war.

He stated the need to support the justice system and law enforcement to end perceived anarchy and threats against the prime minister.

Supporters claim the changes will strengthen democracy by limiting the power of unelected judges, while opponents view it as undermining democratic institutions, particularly given Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.

Many Israelis believe internal divisions caused by the attempted overhaul weakened the country and military before the Hamas attack.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the attack on Netanyahu’s home and criticized Levin’s proposal, calling for Levin’s resignation and warning against the creation of an undemocratic state.