UPDATE: ISRAELI STRIKE HITS AREA NEAR BEIRUT AIRPORT

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Following Israeli raids on the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut, including one on a location close to the hub, Lebanon’s transport minister declared Thursday that the nation’s sole international airport was functioning regularly.

Aircraft were taking off and landing without any problems, Minister Ali Hamie told AFP.

An AFP photographer on the scene said that a hit had severely damaged a heater plant adjacent to the airport’s perimeter wall.

Since late September, when it shifted its focus from combating Hamas in the Gaza Strip to safeguarding its northern border, Israel has been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The strike near the airport came after Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that it had targeted a military base close Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international transport hub.

The overnight strike in Beirut caused “minor damage” to some buildings but “not inside the terminal building”, an airport official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.

He said the strike had affected a maintenance building belonging to a subsidiary of Middle East Airlines, Lebanon’s national carrier and practically the only airline still operating flights there.

Abu Elie, a taxi driver, was at the airport when the strikes hit.

“The entire car park shook. People were carrying their luggage on their shoulders and running,” he said.

“When I made it to the street there was so much smoke I had to turn the headlights on.”

The Israeli army had earlier issued an evacuation order for four neighbourhoods in southern Beirut, including a site near the airport.

“Once they sent warnings, we got in the car and fled,” Beirut resident Malak Okail told AFP.

“It has become repetitive,” said Ramzi Zaitar, another resident.

“We’ve had to flee our homes several times. Sometimes we sleep in the car,” he added.

“Death has become a matter of luck. We can either die or survive.”

Since September 23, more than 2,600 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad.

AFP