Deadly Israeli Strikes Devastate Central Beirut, Leaving 22 Dead and Many Wounded

 

A tragic series of Israeli airstrikes struck central Beirut on Thursday night, resulting in the destruction of an entire residential building and leaving at least 22 people dead and over 117 injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The attacks reportedly targeted a senior Hezbollah official in a densely populated area of the city, far from the group's stronghold in the southern suburbs.

Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes as a multi-story building in the upper Basta neighborhood collapsed following the strike. “The bomb hit. And the entire building fell down,” said Hassan, a witness who observed the incident. Many residents, including those recently displaced, were inside the building when it was hit.

While Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed the strikes or any specific targets, sources within Hezbollah indicated that Wafiq Safa, the head of the group's liaison unit, was the intended target but survived the assassination attempt. A separate strike also targeted another building in the Al Nuwairi neighborhood, although details on casualties from this attack remain unclear.

The aftermath of the strikes left the local community reeling. Outside the American University of Beirut Medical Center, relatives and friends gathered, overwhelmed with grief. One elderly woman, visibly distraught, learned that her son and daughter had been killed in the strikes, illustrating the profound impact on civilian lives amidst the ongoing conflict.

In response to the escalating violence, the United States reaffirmed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah. However, the State Department emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, urging Israel to take all feasible steps to minimize harm, particularly in densely populated areas like Beirut.

For ongoing updates on this situation and more, follow me on Twitter at @dark_web24.