The apparent target of the airstrike was Wafiq Safa, the brother-in-law of former Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, who reportedly evaded the assassination attempt against him.

Without warning the locals beforehand, Israel attacked residential buildings in Nweiri and Basta, two densely populated neighborhoods in Bachoura, a small mainly Shia-populated area in central Beirut.

[7] According to a report by The Guardian, Israel used US-made JDAM guidance kits fit for large "dumb bombs" ranging up to 2,000 pounds (910 kg).

According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Safa was head of Hezbollah's security apparatus who directly reported to Hassan Nasrallah, and he allegedly "exploited Lebanon’s ports and border crossings to smuggle contraband and facilitate travel on behalf of Hizballah".

[5] On October 13 Hezbollah said it targeted the Israel Defense Forces' soldiers at the Tsnobar logistics base for the Golani Brigade in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, who were "preparing to participate in the attack on Lebanon".