Israel strikes Beirut, targets senior Hezbollah official – Media
Photo: Israel strikes Beirut (Getty Images)
Israel strikes in the center of Beirut. The target of the attack was a senior Hezbollah official, Wafiq Safa, according to The Times of Israel.
According to the agency, the target of tonight’s large-scale airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in central Beirut was Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit.
Who is Wafiq Safa?
In 2019, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Safa, describing him as Hezbollah’s interlocutor with Lebanese security forces.
"As the head of Hezbollah’s security apparatus, which is directly linked to Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, Safa has exploited Lebanon’s ports and border crossings to smuggle contraband and facilitate travel on behalf of Hezbollah, undermining the security and safety of the Lebanese people, while also draining valuable import duties and revenue away from the Lebanese government,” the Treasury Department wrote at the time.
A source within Lebanese security services confirmed to Reuters that the Israeli strike in central Beirut targeted at least one high-ranking Hezbollah figure.
This is the third such attack outside of southern Beirut’s suburbs since Israel escalated its campaign against Hezbollah last month.
For over a year, Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in conflict. Recently, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a ground operation against militants, with troops entering Lebanese territory.
According to the latest reports, Israel lost 15 soldiers during this operation.
Additionally, it was reported that Hezbollah militants fired over 100 rockets at northern Israel in recent days.
