A sign featuring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the site of the Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sept.20, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
At least 37 dead, 68 injured and more than 20 people reported missing: the Israeli strike on Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which killed two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders and 14 party fighters, has dealt another heavy blow to Lebanon. Earlier in the week, Israel targeted the communications of the group, destroying thousands of beepers and walkie-talkies used by its members. On Friday, it reportedly aimed at a "command committee meeting" of its elite force, bringing the total death toll from these three attacks to at least 70.
Bodies on the ground, puddles of blood, debris... these scenes of horror unfolded once again near al-Qaem mosque in the southern suburbs, where our reporter Mohammad Yassine arrived early Saturday morning.
L'Orient Today captures, in images, the search and rescue operations.
- The Lebanese army remains deployed on Saturday at the entrance to the targeted area, where it established a security cordon the day before.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
- Rescue workers from the Lebanese Red Cross, Civil Defense, al-Rissala scouts affiliated with the Amal movement and the Islamic Health Committee of Hezbollah continue to clear the streets and conduct searches.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
- They scour the streets among the charred vehicles, searching for a breath, a cry, any sign of life.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
- Meanwhile, families are waiting for news of their loved ones, missing under the rubble since Friday. Some are praying, others are wandering the streets calling for their relatives, and some remain frozen... in silence. According to caretaker Public Works and Transportation Minister Ali Hamieh, rescue workers are searching for 23 missing persons.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
- The four missiles fired by Israeli planes at the parking lot of the targeted ten-story building caused significant damage. The building collapsed down to the second basement level, according to a Lebanese security source cited by Al Jazeera.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
- About 24 hours after the tragedy, volunteers remain undeterred. Search and rescue operations continue in the hope of finding survivors.
(Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.