Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, including 20 fatalities from a devastating attack that destroyed a multi-story residential building in central Beirut overnight, according to Lebanese authorities.
In the densely populated Basta district of the capital, rescue teams on Saturday searched through the rubble for survivors. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the strike involved “bunker-busting” bombs. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed that at least 66 people were injured, while a security source told CNN that no senior Hezbollah officials were present in the levelled building. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have not commented on the attack and reportedly issued no evacuation warnings before the strike.
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This assault was one of several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and across Lebanon on Saturday, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations. In southern Beirut suburbs, Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah positions, stating that evacuation orders had been issued for several buildings to minimize civilian casualties. The NNA later reported a “very strong airstrike” in the area.
Israeli strikes were also reported outside the capital, with significant casualties in eastern and southern Lebanon. In the Baalbek-Hermel region, a strike on the town of Shmistar killed at least 13 people, including four children, and injured another 13. Other strikes in the region claimed at least 11 lives and left 32 wounded. In the southern city of Tyre, an airstrike on several buildings killed five and injured 19. An NNA journalist narrowly escaped injury from a drone strike on a nearby beach.
Amidst these airstrikes, clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have intensified in southern Lebanon, particularly around the strategically significant town of Khiam. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for at least 30 attacks on Saturday, using drones, missiles, and rockets, describing its actions as a defence of Lebanon and its people. The Israeli military has not confirmed reports of fighting in Khiam.
The Basta attack is the latest in a series of Israeli strikes on central Beirut in recent weeks, following the death of a Hezbollah spokesperson in an airstrike last Sunday. While most Israeli airstrikes have concentrated on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, recent operations have expanded across the country. The IDF stated Saturday that it had targeted “dozens of Hezbollah command canters, weapons storage sites, and terrorist infrastructure” in the suburbs.
The escalating violence comes as Israel continues its large-scale offensive against Hezbollah, which began in September. The campaign has killed top Hezbollah commanders, displaced over a million Lebanese residents, and resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people, with thousands more injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The UN’s refugee agency has highlighted the extensive humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire are ongoing. Earlier this week, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut, expressing optimism that a truce between Israel and Hezbollah was “within reach.” Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem emphasized that negotiations hinge on preserving Lebanese sovereignty and preventing further Israeli violations. Israeli ministers, however, insist any agreement must safeguard their military’s ability to act against Hezbollah to protect Israeli citizens.
Simultaneously, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have claimed 120 lives over the past 48 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported severe restrictions on humanitarian access to northern Gaza, exacerbating the suffering of civilians trapped under rubble or in dire need of medical aid, food, and clean water. Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in Palestinian territories, described the situation as dire, saying, “Lives are lost because help cannot reach them.”
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