Hezbollah announced that Ali Karaki, the group’s third-highest-ranking official, is alive and has been relocated to a safe location after reports surfaced that he was targeted in an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, which had left his fate uncertain.
In a statement released Monday night, the Iran backed group confirmed that the strike had aimed at Karaki, but assured that he was “fine and, God willing, in full health and wellness and has moved to a safe place”, as per report by The Times of Israel.
Karaki is in charge of Hezbollah’s “Southern Front,” which manages the group’s military operations in southern Lebanon. He is the third-highest leader in Hezbollah’s armed forces and the most senior member left after the assassinations of key commanders Fuad Shukr and Ibrahim Aqil.
Ibrahim Aqil, who led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, was killed in a targeted Israeli military strike in Beirut last week. Meanwhile, strikes attributed to Israel earlier this year also resulted in the deaths of Fuad Shukr, a senior commander, and Saleh al-Aruri, a leader in the allied Palestinian militant group Hamas.
‘Operation Northern Arrows’
On Tuesday, Israel announced conducting dozens of new airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, just a day after the deadliest bombardment since the 2006 war, which resulted in the deaths of 558 people, including 50 children.
The overnight strikes on southern Lebanon came after it said it had killed a “large number” of militants when it hit about 1,600 suspected Hezbollah targets around the country.
Israel has named its operations against Hezbollah “Operation Northern Arrows,” following its announcement earlier this month that it would shift its focus from Gaza to Lebanon.
Several Gulf airlines suspend Beirut flights
Several Gulf airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, temporarily suspended flights to Beirut on Tuesday as tensions escalated between Israel and Hezbollah following the deadliest bombardment of Lebanon since 2006.
Etihad Airways and flydubai also joined a number of international carriers in halting services to Beirut, as Israeli strikes continued a day after Lebanese officials reported 558 deaths in the country.
“The safety of our crew and customers is of utmost importance and will not be compromised,” Emirates said in a statement, announcing the suspension of flights on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lufthansa extends Tel Aviv, Tehran flight suspension
German airline group Lufthansa announced on Tuesday that it has extended the suspension of flights to and from Israel’s Tel Aviv and Iran’s capital, Tehran, until October 14.
Lufthansa stated on its website that it is continuing to “monitor the situation closely and will assess it further in the coming days.” The airline also added that flights to Beirut will remain suspended until October 26.
Tens of thousands flee Lebanon strikes: UN
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in Lebanon due to the relentless Israeli strikes, the UN stated on Tuesday, describing the situation as “extremely alarming.”
“We are gravely concerned about the serious escalation in the attacks that we saw yesterday,” UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said.
“Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes yesterday and overnight, and the numbers continue to grow,” he added.
Hezbollah ‘can’t stand alone’ against Israel: Iran
Iran, which supports Hezbollah by providing arms, training, and funding, condemned the recent airstrikes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Tuesday that Hezbollah “cannot stand alone” against Israel.
“Hezbollah cannot stand alone against a country that is being defended and supported and supplied by Western countries, by European countries and the United States,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with CNN.
“We must not allow Lebanon to become another Gaza at the hands of Israel,” he added.
Several other world leaders have also voiced concern over the rapid escalation, with UN chief António Guterres’s spokesman saying that he is “gravely alarmed.” Meanwhile, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, warned that “we are almost in a full-fledged war.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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