Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut on Friday, marking the latest escalation in the volatile conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The strikes, part of a broader campaign against the group, follow a ballistic missile attack by Iran earlier in the week, itself a response to Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

Among the targets in Beirut was Hashem Safieddine, considered a possible successor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel last week. However, the fate of Safieddine remains unclear, with neither Israel nor Hezbollah offering comments. Smoke and blasts were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs early Saturday, according to witnesses, with Israel issuing multiple alerts for evacuations in various districts.

Tensions have been running high as Israel weighs its response to Iran’s missile strike. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking on Friday, suggested alternatives to striking Iran’s oil facilities, stating that Israel has yet to decide on its next steps. Biden dismissed suggestions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was trying to influence the upcoming U.S. election but reaffirmed the U.S.'s unwavering support for Israel.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on Lebanon, with over 2,000 deaths reported, including civilians and Hezbollah fighters. While Israel insists it targets military capabilities, Lebanon’s government has accused it of indiscriminately killing civilians, including women and children. Israel, for its part, maintains that Hezbollah hides among civilians, complicating efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

Hezbollah reported ongoing clashes in southern Lebanon, as Israeli ground forces launched localized operations near the border, a move that could signal a prolonged incursion.

In Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his support for Hezbollah, urging regional allies to intensify their resistance against Israel. Khamenei defended Iran’s missile attack on Israel as “legal and legitimate” and warned that any further Israeli actions would be met with retaliation, including strikes on Israeli energy infrastructure.

Amid the ongoing hostilities, the Israeli military claimed to have killed Hezbollah’s head of communication networks, Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, in recent strikes. Meanwhile, Israeli officials confirmed that the Thursday night operation in Beirut was aimed at Hezbollah's intelligence networks.

The humanitarian impact of the conflict is severe. The latest wave of strikes has driven over 1.2 million Lebanese from their homes, with Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs reduced to rubble. Entire streets have been flattened, and civil defence agencies, including Hezbollah-affiliated medics, have suffered casualties. On Friday alone, 11 medics were reported killed in southern Lebanon.

The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned the rising civilian death toll, with U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric describing it as “totally unacceptable.” Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department confirmed the death of Kamel Ahmad Jawad, a Lebanese-American citizen, in an Israeli airstrike earlier this week, adding further strain to the already tense diplomatic situation.

As the conflict intensifies, the prospect of a broader regional escalation looms, with both Hezbollah and Iran vowing not to back down.