A significant Israeli airstrike has struck central Beirut, resulting in 11 fatalities

A significant airstrike in central Beirut on Saturday resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, according to the Lebanese civil defense. The attack reverberated throughout the capital as Israel intensified its military operations against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group.

The strike led to the destruction of an eight-story building, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency. Footage from Al Jadeed, a Lebanese news outlet, displayed at least one building in ruins and several others severely damaged in the vicinity.

Israel reportedly employed bunker buster bombs during the assault, creating a substantial crater, with the scent of explosives lingering in the air hours later.

The explosions occurred around 4 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), with security sources indicating that at least four bombs were deployed in the operation.

This incident marked the fourth Israeli airstrike targeting central Beirut within the week, diverging from the majority of Israel’s strikes, which have predominantly focused on the Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs. Notably, an Israeli airstrike on Sunday resulted in the death of a Hezbollah media official in the Ras al-Nabaa area of central Beirut.

A man whose family was affected by the attack attempted to console a distressed woman outside a hospital. Nearby, car windows were shattered.

“There was dust and destroyed buildings, people were running and screaming. My wife is in the hospital, my daughter is in the hospital, my aunt is in the hospital,” said Nemir Zakariya, who displayed a photo of his daughter.

This is my younger child, and my son has also sustained injuries. My daughter is currently at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, and this is the situation we are facing.

In September, Israel initiated a significant military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, following nearly a year of escalating tensions stemming from the Gaza conflict. The offensive involved extensive airstrikes across various regions of Lebanon and the deployment of ground troops in the southern areas.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least 62 fatalities and 111 injuries on Thursday alone, raising the total death toll since October 2023 to 3,645, with 15,355 individuals injured. These statistics do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have accused Israel of conducting indiscriminate bombings that result in civilian casualties. In response, Israel has denied these claims, asserting that it takes significant measures to minimize civilian harm.

During the same timeframe, Hezbollah’s actions have led to over 100 deaths in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, including more than 70 soldiers who were killed in various strikes and combat operations in southern Lebanon, as reported by Israel.

The conflict escalated when Hezbollah, a key ally of Tehran in the region, began firing in support of its Palestinian counterpart, Hamas, following the latter’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

This week, a U.S. mediator visited Lebanon and Israel to facilitate a ceasefire. The envoy, Amos Hochstein, reported that progress was made during discussions in Beirut before proceeding to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.