In the early hours of Friday, air strikes hit southern Beirut, crumpling an 11-story building and intensifying concerns over escalating tensions in Lebanon. The Israeli military conducted successive rounds of strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs from morning until evening, targeting areas deemed strongholds of Hezbollah.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes in the southern region resulted in the deaths of five paramedics affiliated with Hezbollah. Casualties have been mounting as the conflict intensifies; according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 226 health workers and patients have been killed in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire in October last year.
The Lebanese state-run National News Agency detailed that Israeli warplanes carried out multiple attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, including strikes on two buildings close to the city center. In south Beirut’s Chiyah district, an AFK photographer captured the moment a missile struck an 11-story building housing shops, apartments, and a gym. The impact ignited a fireball, causing the structure to collapse and littering the busy street with debris.
The Israeli military stated that its air force targeted Hezbollah positions around the city of Tyre, including observation posts, command centers, intelligence infrastructure, and weapons storage facilities. It announced the completion of a series of strikes on “Hezbollah terrorist command centers” in south Beirut.
Since September 23, the Israeli army has intensified air attacks on Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in its conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October.
The human toll of the conflict continues to rise. The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that the death toll from Israeli air strikes has reached 3,645, with over 15,355 individuals injured since October 8, 2023. The ongoing hostilities have raised alarm across the international community, with calls for de-escalation and protection of civilian lives.
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Eleven-story building toppled as Israel keeps up strikes in Lebanon
cgtn.com
