Israeli warplanes swooped low over Beirut, causing sonic booms across the Lebanese capital just before the leader of Hezbollah was set to give an address.
I caught the 3rd sonic boom just before the 2nd. Two jets flew side by side dropping what looked like 2 flares with smoke. I do not know what the flare nor the smoke is related to. I'm sure someone on here knows #beirut #sonicboom #lebanon pic.twitter.com/78ZEsw8g3Z
— Ayah Ajam (@AyahAjam) August 6, 2024
Nasrallah said the sonic booms were intended to provoke those gathered for the memorial.
Israel’s strike last week that killed commander Fuad Shukr was the second time Israel had struck the southern suburbs in 10 months of hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military that are taking place in parallel with the Gaza war.
Hezbollah earlier on Tuesday said it launched a swarm of attack drones at two military sites near Acre in northern Israel and also attacked an Israeli military vehicle in another location.
The Israeli military said a number of hostile drones were identified crossing from Lebanon and one was intercepted.
Israeli medical officials said seven people were evacuated to hospital, to the south of the coastal city of Nahariya, one in critical condition.
The Israeli military said an initial investigation indicated the injuries were caused by an interceptor that “missed the target and hit the ground, injuring several civilians.” It said the incident was still under review.
Reuters journalists saw one impact site near a bus stop on a main road outside the northern city of Nahariya.
The Israeli military said in a statement sirens sounded around Acre, but that turned out to be a false alarm. It said its air force struck two Hezbollah facilities in south Lebanon.
Escalating tensions in the region
Fears are rising that the Middle East could tip into full-blown war following vows by Hezbollah to avenge Shukr’s killing, and by Iran to respond to the assassination in Tehran last week of the head of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
A Hezbollah source told Reuters that “the response to the assassination of commander Fuad Shukr has not yet come.”
Earlier on Tuesday, four Hezbollah fighters were killed in a strike on a home in the Lebanese town of Mayfadoun, nearly 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the border, medics and a security source said.
Polish peacekeepers remain undeterred
Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, Polish military contingents in Lebanon and Iraq continue to carry out their mandated tasks without interruption.
In Lebanon, Polish troops are part of the UN peacekeeping forces, while in Iraq they are part of the Global Coalition against ISIS and are also involved in training Iraqi soldiers.
According to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, current analysis indicates that no extraordinary measures are required at this time.
On the night of Monday to Tuesday, there was an attack on the U.S. Air Force base Ain al-Asad in Anbar Province, western Iraq, which also hosts foreign military contingents, including Polish forces. According to Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, no Polish soldiers or civilian personnel were in the attacked area.
The Operational Command of the Armed Forces later stated on social media platform X that “despite the increased tension in the Middle East, the Polish Military Contingents (PKW) stationed in the Republic of Lebanon (PKW UNIFIL) and the Republic of Iraq (PKW IRAK) continue to perform their mandated tasks in their operational areas without interruption.”
Dowództwo Operacyjne Rodzajów Sił Zbrojnych informuje, że pomimo wzrostu poziomu napięcia na obszarze Bliskiego Wschodu, Polskie Kontyngenty Wojskowe (PKW) stacjonujące w Republice Libańskiej (PKW UNIFIL) oraz w Republice Iraku (PKW IRAK) nieprzerwanie realizują zadania mandatowe… pic.twitter.com/ehLXWA6bAn
— Dowództwo Operacyjne (@DowOperSZ) August 6, 2024