Israeli Attack In Beirut Kills 22 People, Senior Official Hezbollah Escapes Military Target

Impact of Israeli attacks in Lebanon/DOK UNICEF

JAKARTA - Israel's attack killed 22 people and injured more than 100 people in central Beirut on Thursday. A senior official Hezbollah reportedly avoided an attempt to kill by the Israeli military in the city.

In southern Lebanon, two UN peacekeepers from Indonesia were injured when Israeli tanks opened fire on a control tower at the troop's main headquarters in Naqura.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted one year ago when an Iranian-backed group carried out an attack to support the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

Violence has escalated dramatically in recent weeks, as Israel bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut, the southern region and the Bekaa Valley, as well as killed many of Hezbollah's main leaders.

Wafiq Safa, who led the Hezbollah liaison and coordination unit responsible for working with the Lebanese security agency, was targeted by Israel on Thursday, October 11 evening but survived, a security source said.

An Israeli attack hit a dense residential environment consisting of apartment buildings and small shops in the heart of Beirut.

"I was praying. We heard the first attack and I thought it happened in my house. The second attack was far more devastating than the first," said Ala'a Baydoun, a resident whose house was damaged.

"I went to see where the attack took place and I saw the glass and window in my house broke. We came and saw this scene. It was a terrible sight, really something that couldn't be trusted," he added.