Tel Aviv [Israel], October 23, 2024: Overnight, Israeli Air Force jets conducted a significant strike on Hezbollah’s primary naval base in Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. The attack resulted in the destruction of key infrastructure, including the base’s headquarters, ammunition depots, and fast vessels. “The vessels of the unit are designed to attack naval vessels and strategic targets in Israel’s maritime space,” stated the IDF. Civilians were given prior warning to evacuate.
Hezbollah’s naval capabilities, which focus on coastal defense, anti-ship operations, and covert assaults, have been a persistent concern for Israel. The group has previously targeted Israel’s offshore gas fields with drones. Following the Hamas attacks in October 2023, Hezbollah intensified its assaults, causing widespread displacement and fatalities in northern Israel.