Israeli troops on high alert for Hamas rocket blitz on Oct 7 anniversary as IDF launches ‘earthquake’ strikes on Beirut
ISRAELI troops are on high alert for possible long-range rocket launches by Hamas on the anniversary of October 7 as the IDF continues to pound Beirut with strikes.
Huge explosions ripped through Beirut last night after an Israeli airstrike hit the city and caused a massive blaze.
The IDF have confirmed they have strengthened forces on the Gaza border amid fears that Hamas could launch a rocket blitz from the Strip on the October 7 anniversary.
Military sources claim while Hamas has largely been executed as a military organisation, there’s still chilling potential that operatives could carry out rocket attacks.
Several organisations are being deployed to defend the Israeli border towns as the military coordinate with cops and emergency services in the case of devastating strikes.
As part of the anticipation for attacks the Israeli forces says it’s boosting defences along the Gaza border and in the Netzarim Corridor area – situated in the Strip’s centre.
Hamas attacks on the anniversary have long been anticipated by the IDF they say, with the main fear surrounding rockets potentially being launched into central Israel.
The IDF said in a statement: “The Southern Command is prepared in defense and attack for several scenarios during the coming month, along with allowing memorial events in the [Gaza border communities] to be carried out safely.”
Chief of the Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman also warned in a video: “We are on heightened alert for the coming days. At a high level of readiness with offensive actions.”
Meanwhile massive strikes hit Beirut’s suburbs last night after the IDF warned Tuesday’s missile blitz would “have consequences”.
Images show huge explosions ripping through Beirut, with footage captured showing the giant fireball erupting from the already burning blaze.
The strikes happened in the same suburb as where Hezbollah’s leader was recently killed.
Locals reported a number of Israeli strikes on the city with a drone buzzing overhead just beforehand.
Before the devastating blitz, Israel’s military said they took steps to “mitigate the risk of harming civilians”.
There have also been reports that commander of Iran‘s Quds Force was killed or wounded in the bombing targeting Hezbollah’s new leader Hashem Safieddine.
Reports emerged on Saturday that Safieddine, the potential successor, had been out of contact since Friday after an Israeli airstrike near the city’s airport was reported to have targeted him.
It is believed that he was killed in the attack.
But Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was last night said to also have been killed or wounded in the bombing targeting Safieddine.
Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an underground command post in Dahieh last week.
The IDF then pounded the suburb with 80 bombs over just several minutes in the late afternoon destroying the hideaway.
The bunker reached 50m underground and held a number of other senior members of the group.
Lebanese media also reported that a fire had broken out at the studios of Hezbollah-affiliated news outlet Al Manar, in the same suburb.
At the same time as the IDF struck Beirut, a barrage of rockets was sent by Hezbollah from Lebanon into Kiryat Shmona.
It came after IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Saturday forces had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters so far in their invasion of Lebanon.
But he warned Israel that Hamas could attack events being held to mark the October 7 anniversary.
Hagari said soldiers were “continuing to fight and operate in Lebanon” and two divisions are manoeuvring in urban and other terrains.
He added: “So far 2,000 Hezbollah targets have been destroyed,” he says.
“Our soldiers are collecting a lot of intel and many weapons from Hezbollah.”
Israel launched their ground offensive into Lebanon this week as they seek to cripple the Iran-backed terror group.
Iran responded to the invasion with a 180-missile barrage against Israel on Tuesday.
Fire lit up the sky across the country as the Iran’s rockets rained down and were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Israel is now set to respond – with experts believing it could strike Iran’s oil facilities – but it has also continued its air campaign in Lebanon.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his country tonight and slammed French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for an arms embargo today as “shameful”.
He said: “What a disgrace, let me tell you this: Israel will win with or without their support but their shame will continue long after the war has won.”
Netanyahu claims the war is defending “civilisation” against “barbarism” and “those who seek to impose a dark age of fanaticism on all of us”.
In a post on X today, Macron said: “There must be no war in Lebanon.
“We strongly urge Israel to stop the escalation in Lebanon, Hezbollah to cease firing towards Israel, and all those providing them with the means to do so to stop.”