Israel Attacks Hezbollah Intelligence Headquarters In Beirut, Loud Explosions Sounded

DOCUMENTATION/Dampak serangan Israel di Beirut selatan Lebanon/mencur UNICEF/Dar al Mussawir/Ramzi Haidar

JAKARTA - Three Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday afternoon local time. Israel confirmed it was attacking Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.

A number of major explosions were heard in western Beirut, Thursday, October 3. CNN reported seeing a puff of massive smoke rising from the southern suburbs of the city, and hearing the sound of drones in the sky.

Earlier, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued an order to vacate 25 additional villages in southern Lebanon, signaling the expansion of ground attacks in the country.

A total of 76 villages in southern Lebanon have now received emptying orders from the IDF since Tuesday, October 1.

IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee released the names of 25 new villages on Thursday, October 3, whose radius now extends to 45 kilometers.

For your safety, you must immediately flee your home and move north of the Awali River. Save your life," Adraee said.

On Wednesday, the IDF announced the delivery of additional divisions to participate in the land war in Lebanon, after reaffirming the invasion was limited, localized, and targeted.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in downtown Beirut in the early hours of Thursday has risen to nine, the Lebanese health ministry said.