Hugo Bachega
Middle East Correspondent in Beirut

The first airstrikes took place about twenty minutes after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, here last night at around 9:30 pm. There were chaotic scenes in some parts of Beirut as people tried to reach areas they thought would be safer, and thick plumes of smoke were seen over the city’s southern suburbs.

The targets were branches of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financial association linked to Hezbollah. It provides services to citizens in Shia Muslim communities where the group enjoys strong support. The branches are often located on the ground floor of residential buildings in busy neighborhoods.

The institution has been under US sanctions since 2007 and is accused by US officials of being a front for Hezbollah – which is armed and financially backed by Iran – to manage its financial activities.

According to the Lebanese state news agency, there were eleven attacks on Dahieh in Beirut, three in the south of the country and two in the Bekaa, areas where Hezbollah has a presence.

In Beirut, one of the attacks hit a location near the country’s only functioning commercial airport.

The attacks appear to mark an expansion of Israel’s war against the group, going beyond the military infrastructure used by the group. A senior Israeli intelligence official said the attacks were intended to disrupt Hezbollah’s operations and its ability to rebuild.

Image source, EPA