- Israeli forces launched multiple waves of strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting central Beirut, the southern suburbs, and the Tyre area.
- At least 12 people were killed in the latest raids, including Mohammad Sherri, the director of political programmes for Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV, who died alongside his wife in the Zuqaq al-Blat neighborhood.
- The Israeli military announced plans to strike bridges and crossings over the Litani River, a move that would effectively cut off southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.
The Middle East conflict reached a new level of intensity on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, as Israeli warplanes pounded densely populated neighborhoods in the heart of Beirut.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Lebanese health authorities confirmed that at least 12 people were killed and 41 wounded in strikes that leveled buildings in the Bashoura, Zuqaq al-Blat, and Basta districts.
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Among the dead was Mohammad Sherri, a high-ranking director at Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV, whose apartment was struck without prior warning.
The escalation follows the March 2 eruption of full-scale hostilities, triggered when Hezbollah launched a massive rocket barrage into Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Since the start of this month, Lebanese authorities report that Israeli strikes have killed at least 912 people and displaced over one million citizens, many of whom are now sleeping in cars and makeshift shelters.
In southern Lebanon, the Israeli military signaled a significant shift in strategy by targeting critical infrastructure.
Arabic-language military spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on X that forces intend to attack all crossings on the Litani River starting Wednesday afternoon to prevent the transfer of weapons and reinforcements.
This move, combined with fresh evacuation orders for the city of Tyre, has sparked widespread panic, forcing thousands to flee further north.
The violence has not been restricted to the capital and the south.
On Tuesday and early Wednesday, strikes were reported in the eastern city of Baalbek and the coastal city of Sidon, where a civil defense rescuer was among the fatalities.
The National News Agency (NNA) also reported that Syrian nationals were among those killed in southern border towns as ground operations continue to expand.
As the death toll climbs and vital infrastructure is targeted, international humanitarian organizations have expressed growing alarm over the worsening displacement crisis.
With central Beirut, once considered a relatively safe zone, now frequently under fire, residents are fleeing in pajamas under the cover of night, highlighting the total lack of sanctuary in the current conflict.
