Israeli Airstrikes Kill Six in Central Beirut, Explosions Heard Across the City
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Israeli Airstrikes Kill Six in Central Beirut, Explosions Heard Across the City
Israeli airstrikes targeted a medical center in central Beirut, killing at least six people. This marked the second attack on Lebanon’s capital this week, following the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) deadliest day of clashes with Hezbollah since October 8.
Residents of Beirut heard the sound of a missile flying overhead, followed by a powerful explosion. Videos circulating on social media showed the floors of an apartment building engulfed in flames. Panic-stricken locals fled the nearby areas, using scooters and cars to escape.
The airstrike hit a medical facility affiliated with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Organization. It occurred in the early hours of Thursday, striking at the heart of Beirut—an area that had mostly been spared from earlier strikes, which had focused on the southern suburbs.
The IDF confirmed it was targeting Beirut, issuing multiple evacuation warnings throughout the night. In addition to the central strike, three missiles struck the southern Dahiyeh neighborhood, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had been killed last week, causing loud explosions, according to Lebanese security officials.
Lebanese health officials reported that at least six people were killed and seven others injured in the attack. They also noted that Israeli airstrikes on the city over the last 24 hours had killed 46 people in total.
The escalation came a day after Iran launched more than 180 missiles into Israel. As the region braced for Israel's response, U.S. President Joe Biden stated he would not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, seeking to contain the fast-escalating conflict.
On Wednesday, the IDF reported that eight soldiers were killed during ground combat in southern Lebanon. The largest group, from the commando brigade, was involved in a deadly clash with Hezbollah fighters in a village north of the Israeli border near Misgav Am. Two other soldiers from the Golani Brigade were killed in a separate incident.