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An Israeli airstrike on central Beirut early Saturday killed 15 people, Lebanese officials reported, as part of Israel’s intensifying campaign against Hezbollah. The strike targeted an eight-story building in the densely populated Basta district, injuring over 60 people and leaving many trapped under the rubble. Rescue workers are using heavy machinery to recover bodies, with the death toll expected to rise.
The attack, which occurred at approximately 4 am local time, shook the city and caused widespread destruction. Witnesses reported hearing a series of powerful explosions that left the area blanketed in smoke and the smell of explosives. The building was hit by bunker-buster missiles, which Israel has previously used to target Hezbollah figures.
Rescue workers remove damaged water tanks at the site. (AP photo)
While Israel has not commented on the specific strike, it has accused Hezbollah of embedding its operations within civilian areas, allegations the group denies. At the scene, Amin Chirri, a member of parliament representing Hezbollah, denied that any senior leader was present in the building.
Firefighters spray water to reduce the dust at the site. (AP photo)
The Basta strike is the fourth attack this week on central Beirut, marking a shift from Israel’s usual targeting of Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs. The intensifying air campaign has also struck villages in the Baalbek district northeast of Beirut. Lebanese health officials reported eight deaths, including four children, in Chimstar village and five fatalities in Bodai village.
Separately, an Israeli airstrike on Roum village in southern Lebanon killed five people and wounded two, according to Lebanon’s state news agency. The strikes have coincided with a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, further escalating the conflict.
Smoke rises after the Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut. (AP photo)
Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah, which began in September, has led to over 3,500 deaths and displaced more than a million people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. The conflict was triggered by Hezbollah’s attacks in support of Hamas following the October 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel.
Efforts for a ceasefire are ongoing, with US mediator Amos Hochstein holding talks in Beirut and Jerusalem this week. However, both sides remain entrenched. Hezbollah has signalled interest in a truce but continues daily attacks on Israeli forces, while Israel aims to neutralise Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon.
(With inputs from AP and BBC)
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