Iran-Israel war LIVE: Israel pounds south Beirut, says it has captured Hezbollah members

A series of strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs yesterday and early today, the first attack on the Hezbollah stronghold in days, as Israel’s military said it captured two members of the Iran-backed group in southern Lebanon.

An earlier Israeli strike hit the upscale, predominantly Christian area of Hazmieh near Beirut, with Israel saying it targeted a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm.

The Israeli military also announced it was “striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut” after having called on residents to leave the southern suburbs beforehand.

In a statement, the Israeli Army said that “during an activity to locate weapons in southern Lebanon, (Israeli) troops identified several armed Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorists who were planning to fire an anti-tank missile”, referring to the group’s commando force.

“After being identified, the terrorists surrendered. They were apprehended by the troops and transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning,” it added.

The Israeli military said two Hezbollah members were captured.

Hezbollah, for its part, announced more than 50 attacks targeting Israeli troops and bases in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, particularly in the border coastal town of Naqura.

Early today, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for two coastal towns near the southern city of Tyre.

– AFP