Military Aircraft Allegedly from Israel Fly Low Over Lebanon’s Capital
Beirut, Lebanon – August 6, 2024
Reports from media and Lebanese residents said military aircraft, believed to be Israeli, flew low over Beirut just minutes before a speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The move appears to be a show of strength.
The loud noises caused by these planes breaking the sound barrier forced Beirut residents to quickly open their windows to avoid broken glass. Others looked from balconies to catch a glimpse of the planes.
Breaking the sound barrier occurs when an object moves faster than 1,236 km/h, creating a distinctive sonic boom and visible shock waves.
Witnesses and the media believe that the plane belonged to the Israeli military, although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not yet commented on this incident.
The flyover came just before Nasrallah’s televised speech commemorating Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander killed in an airstrike last week. This action may be intended as a threat. Nasrallah said the incident was a provocation against those who gathered in the southern suburbs of Beirut for his memorial and broadcast.
Earlier that day, Hezbollah launched a series of drones targeting two military sites near Acre in northern Israel and an IDF vehicle. The IDF confirmed that several drones entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon and that one was intercepted. An Israeli anti-aircraft shell fired by mistake caused injuries on the ground, sending seven people to the hospital, one critically.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the airstrike that killed a Hezbollah commander and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran accused Israel of orchestrating Haniyeh’s assassination, while Israel neither confirmed nor denied these accusations.
With such a tense situation, negotiating an agreement to end the war is still a difficult problem without an answer. This problem requires the consent of all parties, sitting together to resolve each issue. step one. Working towards the common goal of ensuring the right to life, freedom, and a full life for the people.
