Powerful explosions shake Beirut overnight amid Israeli bombardment

Powerful explosions shook Beirut late Sunday and after midnight on Monday, a day after Israel’s heaviest bombardment of the southern suburbs known as the Dahiyeh since it escalated its air campaign on Sept. 23. Israel has said it is targeting Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, which has called its firing of rockets into Israel a show of support for the Palestinians. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported more than 30 strikes overnight into Sunday. New strikes began in the Beirut suburbs late Sunday, AP video showed. Israel’s military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 130 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted. A year after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Israel has opened a new front in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has traded fire with Israel along the border since the war in Gaza began. At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have been ki