Ignoring Blinken’s call for ceasefire, Hezbollah launches precision-guided missiles for first time_1

On October 23, Israel launched a fierce assault in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with flames and thick smoke rising from buildings, as reported by the Associated Press. The strike came shortly after Hezbollah announced it had targeted Israeli sites with precision-guided missiles for the first time. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently visiting the Middle East, seeking to halt the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.

This visit marks Blinken’s 11th trip to the region since Hamas’s attack on Israel over a year ago, which ignited the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

According to Reuters, shortly after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings, the suburbs of Beirut were bombed, and flames erupted from the ground. An unannounced wave of airstrikes also struck an office of Al-Mayadeen television, which is backed by Iran—this office had been vacant since the conflict began.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that the Israeli airstrikes resulted in one fatality and five injuries, including a child.

In a statement on the evening of October 23, Hezbollah, supported by Iran, proclaimed that it had intensified its offensive against Israel, marking the first use of precision missiles and launching new drones at Israeli targets, though no further details were disclosed.

Hezbollah announced that it had targeted Israeli military factories in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, claiming that air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas at the time of the attack.

The Israeli military stated that its air defense systems detected four projectiles launched from Lebanon, intercepting two while one fell in an open area and another was confirmed to have landed within the local vicinity. So far, there are no indications that any defensive installations around Tel Aviv were compromised.

Meanwhile, Washington is making a significant final push for peace between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as Hamas, before the presidential election on November 5. However, the escalating conflict raises concerns about the potential impact of the election results on U.S. policy moving forward.