Israel Attack in the heart of Beirut - eleven dead and widespread destruction

In the midst of ongoing talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Israeli military is repeatedly launching fierce attacks - including in the heart of the capital Beirut. Fighting also continues in southern Lebanon. While Israeli ground troops are advancing further and further there, according to Lebanese reports, Hezbollah is firing rockets into northern Israel.

The armed conflict between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and Israel has been going on for more than a year, but has recently intensified considerably. According to Hezbollah, it is firing at the neighboring country in support of the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which carried out a massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023 that left around 1,200 people dead. Since then, Israel has been attacking targets in Lebanon and is now also fighting with ground troops in the south of the country. According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,500 people have already been killed in the war in Lebanon.

Eleven dead after air strike on Beirut city center

According to the authorities, at least eleven people have been killed in a heavy air attack in the center of Beirut. 63 people were injured in the attack on a building in the densely populated Basta district, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The number of victims is expected to rise further.

Lebanese security circles reported that the attack was aimed at a Hezbollah official. No further details were initially available.

Night-time attack without warning

Eyewitnesses reported that the explosions shook the entire city. There was massive damage. The attack occurred at around 4.00 a.m. (local time). According to the state news agency, an eight-storey building was completely destroyed in the attack. Adjacent buildings also suffered massive damage.

The Israeli military had not previously issued an evacuation order to the residents of the area hit. The residential area is not far from parliament and the Grand Serail government palace.

In the morning, relatives and rescuers continued to search for survivors in the rubble. "My mother and sister are still lying under the rubble," a resident told dpa. Another resident, looking at the destroyed building, said: "My mother slept here and my three-year-old daughter slept here. Now they are in hospital."

Further attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut

Israel's air force also continued its attacks in the suburbs of the capital. Several evacuation calls to the residents of the suburbs known as Dahija were followed by air strikes. The Israeli military has been carrying out intensive attacks there since Friday.

The army spoke of attacks on weapons depots, command centers and "terrorist infrastructure" of Hezbollah. The suburbs are densely populated residential areas. Many of the residents of Dahija have already fled. The area is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Even before the renewed intensive attacks of the last 24 hours, eyewitnesses reported great destruction.

Fighting in southern Lebanon

Meanwhile, Israeli troops also continued to advance into strategically important locations in southern Lebanon. Lebanese security circles and local media reported that Israel's army had advanced to several locations in the south-east and south-west. Security sources also reported that an important road connecting the city of Nabatia and border towns had been destroyed. The road was considered an important supply route for the Hezbollah militia. The Israeli army did not comment on the alleged troop movements.

Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border - as stipulated by UN Resolution 1701, which marked the end of the last war in 2006. A draft ceasefire currently under discussion provides for the full implementation of the resolution and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Observers see the continued advance as a potential threat to the ceasefire talks. The expert and founder of the INEGMA military institute in Dubai, Riad Kahwadschi, told dpa that both sides were trying to improve their conditions before a possible agreement on a ceasefire. This could affect the talks.

Rockets on Israel's north

According to the army, five rockets have hit the northern Israeli region of Metula on the border with Lebanon. The newspaper "Haaretz" reported, citing the local mayor, that the rockets had hit agricultural land. There were no casualties.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several rocket attacks on locations in northern Israel.

SDA