War in the Middle East: Attack in the heart of Beirut – many deaths and great destruction

Amid ongoing talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Israeli military repeatedly launches violent attacks – including in the heart of the capital Beirut. Fighting also continues in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese sources, while Israeli ground troops are advancing there, 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 significantly. According to its own account, Hezbollah is shelling the neighboring country in support of the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which carried out a massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023 that left around 1,200 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. In northern Israel, Hezbollah shelling killed 77 people, 46 of whom were civilians.

Many dead after air strike on central Beirut

According to authorities, at least 15 people were killed in a serious air strike in the middle of Beirut. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said 63 people were injured in the attack on a building in the densely populated Basta district. The number of victims is expected to continue to rise.

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

Night attack without warning

Eyewitnesses reported that the explosions shook the entire city. There was massive damage. The attack occurred around 4:00 a.m. (local time). According to the state news agency, an eight-story building was completely destroyed in the attack. Adjacent buildings also suffered massive damage.

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

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

More attacks in southern suburbs of Beirut

Israel’s air force also continued its attacks in the suburbs of the capital. Air strikes followed several evacuation calls for residents of the suburbs known as Dahija. The Israeli military has been attacking there intensively since Friday.

The army spoke of attacks on Hezbollah’s weapons depots, command centers and “terrorist infrastructure”. 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 intense attacks of the last 24 hours, eyewitnesses reported great destruction.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops continued to advance into strategically important locations in southern Lebanon. Lebanese security sources and local media reported that Israel’s army had advanced to several locations in the southeast and southwest. An important connecting road between the city of Nabatia and border towns was also destroyed, security sources said. 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 previous war in 2006. A draft ceasefire currently being discussed envisages the full implementation of the resolution and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

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

Rockets on Israel’s north

According to the army, five rockets hit the Metula region on the border with Lebanon in northern Israel. The Haaretz newspaper reported, citing the local mayor, that the rockets hit agricultural areas. There were no injuries.

Hezbollah claimed several rocket attacks on locations in northern Israel.