Strikes between Israel and Hezbollah ramp up as evacuation notice issued for Beirut

Strikes between Israel and Hezbollah ramped up Wednesday night, as the Israeli military issued an urgent evacuation notice for parts of southern Lebanon, including Beirut.

The two have continued to trade fire since Israel last week began carrying out intensified attacks targeting Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon, following its strikes on Iran.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced a new operation against its neighbor, launching dozens of rockets. 

Israel has responded with an intense bombardment of the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh.

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday it began a “large-scale wave of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure” after issuing an “urgent and dangerous” evacuation alert for the area. 

In an update late Wednesday, the IDF said it had struck 10 Hezbollah facilities in Dahieh in 30 minutes, including an intelligence headquarters and command centers.

Since March 2, when Israel began issuing evacuation warnings amid its airstrikes, over 630 people have been killed and nearly 1,600 injured in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry.