BEIRUT/JERUSALEM. A high-ranking Hezbollah official narrowly escaped an Israeli assassination attempt on Thursday night in Beirut, according to three security sources, as Israeli airstrikes killed 22 people and left more than 100 injured. The U.N. has also warned that its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon face growing danger due to escalating hostilities.
The target of the assassination attempt was Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, which manages the group’s interactions with Lebanese security agencies. Safa survived the attack, the security sources confirmed.
Earlier on Thursday, a Lebanese security source told Reuters that Israeli airstrikes aimed at a senior Hezbollah official struck a densely populated area in central Beirut. The airstrikes marked the deadliest assault on the Lebanese capital since the outbreak of hostilities, with no prior warnings issued by Israel before the strikes.
The residential neighborhood hit by the strikes had previously been untouched by Israeli bombardment, which had primarily focused on Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs. In this latest attack, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 22 people were killed, including a family of eight who had evacuated from southern Lebanon. At least 117 others were wounded, according to official reports.
One of the airstrikes hit near a gas station, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. Footage broadcast by Hezbollah’s al-Manar television showed rescue workers sifting through the rubble in search of survivors, while fires raged in the background.
There has been no immediate comment from Israel regarding the attempted assassination of Safa or the airstrikes. The Israeli military, however, issued new evacuation warnings for Beirut’s southern suburbs later that evening.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, killing several high-ranking officials, including top leader Hassan Nasrallah. Safa, who has a pivotal role combining both security and political responsibilities, remains one of the few surviving senior Hezbollah figures, as the group struggles to reorganize its leadership.
Safa’s prominence in Hezbollah dates back to his involvement in key negotiations, including the 2008 prisoner exchange deal with Israel. His role has also extended beyond military affairs—Reuters previously reported that in 2021, Safa warned the judge investigating the 2020 Beirut port explosion to halt his inquiry into politicians aligned with Hezbollah, threatening the group’s intervention in the case.
The ongoing Israeli strikes have further escalated tensions, with Israel warning Lebanese civilians not to return to homes in the south as fighting continues.
