Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 37 people in Beirut

Lebanese authorities say development comes day after Israeli airstrike targeted Hezbollah commanders

Rescue workers continued searching for survivors in Beirut on Saturday, a day after an Israeli airstrike targeting Hezbollah commanders killed at least 37 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

The strike, which leveled a residential building in the capital's southern suburb, is the deadliest in nearly a year of escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group, confirmed that 16 of its members, including senior leaders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi, were among the dead.

Israel’s army stated it had targeted an underground meeting of Aqil and Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces, claiming the attack severely weakened the group’s military command structure.

The strike also killed civilians, including three children and seven women, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that children were among the victims as rescue crews continued combing through the rubble.

Cross-border violence has intensified, with Israeli warplanes bombing Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Saturday. Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks on military installations in northern Israel.

The Israeli military reported hitting around 180 targets, including rocket launch sites.

The ongoing hostilities come amid Hezbollah’s vow to continue fighting Israel until it agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been engaged in an intense campaign against Hamas since early October.

US officials, however, consider a ceasefire in Gaza unlikely in the near future. Israel has demanded that Hezbollah withdraw from the border region, in compliance with a 2006 UN resolution, before discussing any halt to the fighting.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York in response to the escalating situation, as diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader conflict in the region have so far been unsuccessful.

Hezbollah’s transport minister, Ali Hamieh, claimed 23 people were still missing in the wake of Friday’s strike.

He accused Israel of "taking the region to war."

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the heightened risk of further escalation but praised the Israeli strike that killed Aqil, describing it as "justice" against Hezbollah, a group Washington has designated a terrorist organization.

He also stressed that the US was seeking a durable solution to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.

With over 70 deaths in Lebanon this week alone, the conflict's toll has risen to more than 740 since October.

The US State Department has advised American citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights remain available, warning of the unpredictable nature of the conflict.

Earlier this week, 39 people were killed and thousands injured when pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia and political group, exploded over two days across Lebanon.

On Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Israel of orchestrating the attacks, claiming it had crossed “all red lines” and vowed retaliation, promising “just punishment.”

However, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the incidents.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the explosions, stating they violated international humanitarian law.

On September 21, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) imposed new restrictions on northern Israeli communities and parts of the southern Golan Heights, effective from 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT). The restrictions apply to the Haifa region and areas further north.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had previously announced on Thursday that Israel was entering a “new phase of the war,” shifting more of its military focus to the northern front.

The situation remains fragile as Israeli officials anticipate possible retaliation from Hezbollah, with air raid sirens sounding in northern Israel on Saturday.

Both sides have vowed to continue their operations, raising concerns of further escalation in a region already deeply affected by violence.