Smoke rising from a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Choueifat, south of Beirut, on May 28. (Credit: Photo circulating on social media)
An Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment in Choueifat, south of Beirut, around 2 p.m. Thursday in what appeared to be an assassination attempt, a Lebanese military source told AFP. The Israeli army later claimed responsibility for what it described as a “precise strike in the Beirut area.”
According to Israeli media reports, the strike targeted Hezbollah commander Ali Husseini, described as head of the group’s “missile unit.” No information was immediately available regarding his fate. Our photographer observed a heavy Hezbollah security deployment at the scene, along with the presence of the Lebanese army and military intelligence services.
According to our information, at least two people were killed: Fatima Wehbe and her newborn daughter. A third woman, Rihab Abboud, from the village of Adloun in the Saida district, was wounded.
The strike hit an apartment in the Rayan building. Images shared by residents on social media showed thick smoke rising above the area on the edge of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Videos also showed young people searching through the rubble by hand in an attempt to find survivors amid scenes of chaos.
It was the second time Israel has targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs and surrounding areas since the cease-fire that took effect on April 17, which Israel repeatedly violates.
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