Israel has carried out air strikes across Lebanon, saying it’s targeting branches of a bank used by Hezbollah
The Israeli military issued 24 warnings of air strikes in less than an hour – most were in southern Beirut, with Israel’s foreign minister saying the city is “in flames”
Two strikes were reported close to Beirut airport, as passenger planes were still landing
Overnight, the UN’s envoy to Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis, wrote: “Widespread panic after new evacuation orders. A brief window to escape to safety”
The Al-Qard al-Hassan bank has been under US sanctions since 2007, with the US saying it allows Hezbollah to bypass banking systems
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz says the overnight attacks on Lebanon was a “wide-scale Israeli attack” which “targeted Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure”.
In a statement on X the minister says:, external “Beirut in flames. Massive fires were seen above Beirut as over 15 buildings were struck following evacuation warnings to residents.
“Hezbollah has paid and will continue to pay a heavy price for its attacks on northern Israel and its rocket fire.
“We will keep striking the Iranian proxy until it collapses.”
