Israeli jets launch intense airstrikes near Beirut International Airport

By Anadolu staff

BEIRUT (AA) - Israeli fighter jets carried out heavy airstrikes early Wednesday on the Lebanese capital Beirut's southern suburbs, including one near Beirut International Airport, hours before a cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah was scheduled to take effect.

An Anadolu correspondent reported renewed Israeli airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs, one of which caused a massive explosion near the airport, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.

The strikes followed an evacuation warning by the Israeli military issued to residents in the Laylaki and Choueifat al-Amrousieh areas claiming the sites were close to Hezbollah facilities.

This marked the second evacuation alert within an hour, with a similar warning issued earlier to residents of Borj El Brajneh and Ghobeiry in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

In Tyre, located in southern Lebanon, the Israeli air force also conducted intense air raids, according to the Anadolu correspondent.

Separately, the Israeli military announced intercepting two drones -- one approaching from the east near the Golan Heights and the other over the Red Sea.

In a statement, the military said that “following alarms activated at 11:22 PM and 11:23 PM for an infiltration by a hostile drone near northern Golan, the air force intercepted a drone coming from the east.”

“Shortly after, another drone approaching from the Red Sea toward Israeli territory was also intercepted,” it added.

The developments unfolded less than three hours before the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah was set to take effect amid heightened hostilities in the region.

Earlier, Israel’s security cabinet approved a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon.

“The Security Cabinet, this evening, in a 10-1 vote, approved the US proposal for a cease-fire arrangement in Lebanon,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

“Israel appreciates the US contribution to the process and maintains its right to act against any threat to its security,” the statement added.

US President Joe Biden earlier announced that both Lebanon and Israel had agreed to the cease-fire, which is set to take effect Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).

Israel has escalated airstrikes in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets as part of year-long warfare against the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

More than 3,760 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with nearly 15,700 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.​​​​​​​

Israel expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1 this year.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio