Israel targets bank branches in air strikes across Lebanon – live updates

Hugo Bachega
Middle East correspondent, in Beirut

The first airstrikes happened
about 20 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders, at around
21:30 here last night. There were chaotic scenes in some parts of Beirut, as
people tried to get to areas they thought would be safer, and thick plumes of
smoke were seen over the city’s southern suburbs.

The targets were branches of
Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financial association linked with Hezbollah. It offers services to civilians in Shia Muslim
communities where the group has strong support. The branches are often located
on the ground floor of residential buildings in busy districts.

The institution has been under
US sanctions since 2007, accused by American officials of being a cover for
Hezbollah – which is armed and financially supported by Iran – to manage its
financial activities.

According to the Lebanese state
news agency, there were 11 attacks on Dahieh in Beirut, three in the country’s
south and two in the Bekaa, areas where Hezbollah is present.

In Beirut, one of
the attacks hit a location near the country’s only functioning commercial
airport.

The attacks appear to mark an
expansion of Israel’s war against the group, going beyond military
infrastructure used by the group. A senior Israeli intelligence official said
the strikes were intended to disrupt Hezbollah’s operations and its ability to
rebuild.

Image source, EPA