Israeli warplanes again break sound barrier over Lebanon
Israeli jets have just created a sonic boom in the skies over Lebanon at least twice, causing loud booming sounds to echo over its capital, Beirut. The first sonic boom was extremely loud as heard from east Beirut’s Achrafieh neighborhood, while the second was fainter.
Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and perform mock air raids over areas of the country, terrifying residents.
Yesterday, Israeli jets caused what Beirut residents say was the loudest sonic boom yet, with many saying that for moments, they were convinced that bombs had been dropped.
At a cafe in Achrafieh moments ago, patrons paused momentarily, shocked by the noise, before returning to their coffees and laptops, as the sounds of Israeli warplanes flying away could be heard in the distance.
Al Jazeera reporter interrupted by Hezbollah rockets and Israeli missiles
Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig was interrupted by Israeli missiles attempting to intercept rockets launched by Hezbollah at the southern Lebanon border. Yesterday, Hezbollah launched a series of drone and rocket strikes on northern Israel.
One killed by Israeli strike in southern Lebanon: Report
Israeli warplanes have struck the southern Lebanese town of Jouaiya, says Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The attack killed at least one person and injured four, according to the ministry’s preliminary toll.
Two killed in Israeli drone attack on motorcycle in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army has killed two people in south Lebanon’s Joya, when one of its drones attacked a motorcycle, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports, citing the country’s Ministry of Public Health.
Six people were wounded in the attack, the agency added.
Typically, single attacks on motor vehicles in south Lebanon are targeted at field-level military leadership of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but the group has yet to announce the death of any of its fighters today.
Hezbollah attacks Israeli military outpost
The armed Lebanese group says on its Telegram channel that its fighters targeted the Jal al-Allam site with artillery shells. This comes one day after a drone “swarm” attack launched by Hezbollah penetrated deep into Israeli territory, some 20km, injuring Israeli civilians.
Lufthansa airline says it will avoid Iran, Iraq airspace until August 13
German airline giant Lufthansa has announced it will avoid using Iranian and Iraqi airspace until August 13, due to rising tensions in the region. The group also extended the suspension of services to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil to the same date, it said in a statement.
Germany calls on citizens not to wait for evacuation from Lebanon
Rumours of a possible evacuation operation from Lebanon have given German citizens there a false sense of security, a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, urging them to leave the country immediately.
“The time now has come to leave Lebanon,” the spokesperson said, calling on citizens to organise their own exit even if this means travelling via Turkey or paying high prices for flights.
A spokesperson for the Defence Ministry declined to give details on preparations for possible evacuations in the event of an escalation in the Middle East conflict.
