Eight Israeli troops killed in fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon

In Lebanon, the country’s health ministry said on Wednesday evening that another 46 people had killed across the country by Israeli air strikes in the previous 24 hours, without differentiating between civilians and combatants.

late on Wednesday the IDF said it had conducted an air strike in Beirut, without giving further details. A BBC reporter in the city said she had heard three big explosions one after the other.

It followed heavy air strikes in Dahieh, Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the previous night after the IDF issued several evacuation orders for areas around buildings it said were linked to the group.

On Wednesday morning, a BBC team was taken there on a media tour organised by Hezbollah to show the recent destruction.

Once a bustling district, Dahieh now looks like a ghost town. Shops have been closed, streets are deserted and most of its residents have left.

One of the sites on the tour was the headquarters of Sirat TV, which was hit on Monday. It was flattened, and nearby buildings were severely damaged, an indication of the power of the attack.

There was still smoke billowing from the rubble and a heavy smell in the air, while the sound of Israeli drones flying overhead could be heard.

There were several posters with the face of Hassan Nasrallah. One said: “None of our banners shall fall.”

Hezbollah says Israel has been hitting civilian buildings, not those used for military purposes. Israel accused the group of hiding weapons and ammunition in residential areas.

US and Israeli officials believe half of Hezbollah’s arsenal has been destroyed and its leadership has been dismantled.

But Mohammed Afif, a Hezbollah spokesman, remained defiant.

“I can say the resistance is swiftly recovering its strength,” he told the BBC. “The leadership of the resistance is well, its command-and-control structure is well, and its supply of rockets is well.”

“God willing, we will inflict defeat upon the Israeli enemy when they dare cross into Lebanon.”