An extensive Israeli airstrike has demolished a residential building in central Beirut, the Lebanese capital. Lebanon’s health ministry reports that the attack resulted in four fatalities and over 20 injuries.
The eight-storey structure in the densely populated Basta district was obliterated by five missiles, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). The strike occurred around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Saturday, causing explosions that reverberated throughout the city. The Israeli military has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
In the aftermath, emergency crews combed through the debris in Basta under the cover of darkness. Footage revealed a large plume of smoke emerging from a significant crater where the building once stood.
Recently, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut have claimed the lives of several senior Hezbollah figures, including the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Since September, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their offensive against Hezbollah, launching air raids and deploying ground troops into southern Lebanon. This escalation followed a series of rocket attacks on Israel by Hezbollah, which were in support of Hamas after the group’s deadly assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
Israel’s declared objective in its conflict with Hezbollah is to enable the return of approximately 60,000 residents displaced from northern Israeli communities due to the group’s attacks. In Lebanon, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 3,500 deaths and the displacement of more than one million people, according to Lebanese authorities.
Earlier this week, a US mediator visited both Israel and Lebanon to negotiate a ceasefire. Amos Hochstein indicated that some progress had been achieved, although he has not disclosed specific details publicly.
Frances Ibiefo
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