On Thursday evening, 22 people were killed and 117 injured in a devastating Israeli air strike on central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The strike occurred in the Bachoura district, a densely populated Shia neighborhood in the capital. The attack marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
The Incident: Residential Areas Hit
The air strike targeted two residential areas, Nweiri and Basta, within Bachoura. Local residents reported hearing loud explosions, and soon after, rescue teams rushed to the scene, digging through rubble in search of survivors. Ambulances quickly transported many of the injured to the American University Hospital. The unexpected nature of the attack, with no prior warnings, left many residents shocked and unprepared. According to eyewitnesses, buildings were reduced to rubble, with one struck building being described as entirely residential and approximately four to five stories high.
This strike came after two relatively calm days in the Lebanese capital, which had been an unusual respite following weeks of intense air strikes across various parts of Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not issued an official statement regarding the strike.
Potential Target: Hezbollah Leader’s Family
Unconfirmed media reports suggest the possible target of the strike was Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking security official and the brother-in-law of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah’s media office has yet to comment on this speculation. It is important to note that this is the third time Israel has conducted air strikes on Beirut beyond the southern suburb of Dahieh, where many Hezbollah-related targets are concentrated.
A Broader Context: Ongoing Tensions
The air strike in central Beirut follows ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, a conflict that has steadily escalated since the beginning of October. Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel, while the Israeli army has launched ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Earlier on Thursday, two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower in southern Lebanon. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that its positions had been hit multiple times within the past 24 hours, sparking concerns about the safety of peacekeepers in the region. UNIFIL, which has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978 to monitor hostilities and ensure humanitarian access, has urged both sides to exercise restraint.
International Reactions
The deadly air strike has drawn condemnation from Lebanese officials, with Lebanon’s Ministry of Health decrying the loss of civilian lives. At the same time, Israel has yet to officially comment on the reasons behind this specific air strike in central Beirut. The United Nations and several international humanitarian organizations have expressed deep concern over the civilian casualties, urging both Israel and Hezbollah to avoid targeting residential areas.
Hezbollah’s Response and Further Clashes
In response to the air strikes, Hezbollah claimed it had retaliated by firing rockets and guided missiles at Israeli soldiers stationed near Naqoura, in southern Lebanon. According to Hezbollah sources, the attack resulted in casualties on the Israeli side, although the number has not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported earlier in the day that an Israeli air strike on the village of Karak, located in eastern Lebanon, had killed four people and injured 17. The mounting death toll from Israeli air strikes has heightened fears of further escalation in the region.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The recent air strikes on central Beirut add to the growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, which has seen significant displacement in recent months. The Lebanese government estimates that 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes over the past year, as fighting between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.
In addition to the immediate loss of life and destruction of infrastructure, these air strikes have left the civilian population of Beirut reeling. Many fear that continued attacks on the capital could cause even greater casualties and further destabilize the city.
Conclusion
The Israeli air strike that killed 22 people in central Beirut is a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict’s human toll. With the situation in Lebanon deteriorating rapidly, and the lack of any immediate diplomatic resolution, residents of Beirut and southern Lebanon are bracing for more violence in the days ahead. As hostilities escalate, the international community has called for restraint, but the violence shows little sign of abating.
In the aftermath of this tragic incident, the Lebanese capital mourns its dead, while the world watches anxiously for the next turn in this volatile conflict.
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