Beirut. A powerful Israeli airstrike killed 15 people in central Beirut on Saturday and another 13 died in the northeast of the capital, the Health Ministry said.
Eight of the victims, four of them children, were killed in an attack on the village of Chimstar and five in another on Bodai village, the ministry said. Both are in the Baalbek district.
In Beirut, four missiles destroyed an eight-story building, including some designed to penetrate bunkers and hit underground targets, a Lebanese security source said.
Israel has used bunker-piercing weapons to kill senior Hezbollah officials, including its veteran leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an attack south of Beirut in September.
At the scene of the Israeli attack, Amin Chirri, a parliamentarian representing Hezbollah, said there were no Hezbollah leaders in the attacked building.
Israeli forces had no comment.
The explosions shook the capital around 4 a.m. (0200 GMT), leaving a deep crater and for several hours there was a strong smell of explosives.
This is the fourth Israeli airstrike this week against a central area of Beirut, unlike most of the bombings against the capital, which have affected the southern suburbs, controlled by Hezbollah. On Sunday, Israel killed a Hezbollah press official in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.
The Israeli air force also attacked Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the group’s stronghold, the army said. In a statement about Saturday’s actions, he did not mention the attack on central Beirut.
He accused Hezbollah of embedding its infrastructure in civilian areas and using the population as human shields, accusations that the group denies.
daughter in the hospital
Rescuers were searching through the rubble in an area of the city known for its antique shops.
A man whose family was injured tried to comfort a traumatized woman outside a hospital. The car windows were smashed.
“There was dust and destroyed houses, people running and screaming, they were running, my wife is in the hospital, my daughter is in the hospital, my aunt is in the hospital,” said the man, Nemir Zakariya, who was holding a photo of his daughter. .
“This is the little girl, and my son was also injured, this is my daughter, she is at the American University (Beirut Medical Center), this is what happened.”
Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in September, after nearly a year of cross-border hostilities sparked by the Gaza war, bombing large areas of Lebanon with airstrikes and sending troops south.
Israeli attacks killed at least 62 people and injured 111 in Lebanon on Thursday, bringing the toll since October 2023 to 3,645 dead and 15,355 injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombings that kill civilians. Israel denies the accusation and says it takes numerous measures to prevent civilian deaths.
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#Israeli #airstrike #leaves #dead #Lebanon
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Here are two People Also Ask (PAA) related questions based on the provided text:
## Interview: Devastating Israeli Airstrikes in Beirut
**Introduction:**
Good evening, and welcome to World Today News. Tonight, we delve into the escalating tensions in Lebanon following a series of devastating Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. We are joined by two distinguished guests: Dr. Leila Khalil, a leading expert on Middle Eastern conflict resolution, and Mr. Omar Haddad, a Lebanese journalist reporting from Beirut. Welcome to both of you.
**Section 1: Immediate Impact & Civilian Casualties**
* **Dr. Khalil, the article paints a grim picture of the aftermath of these airstrikes. What are your initial thoughts on the human cost of these attacks, particularly the impact on civilians?**
* **Mr. Haddad, you are on the ground in Beirut. Could you describe the situation for our viewers? What are the main concerns and challenges facing the population in the wake of these attacks?**
**Section 2: Targeting and International Law**
* **Mr. Haddad, the article mentions that these recent airstrikes targeted both Hezbollah strongholds and central Beirut, a departure from previous attacks. What is the significance of these shifts in targeting, and what potential implications do they hold for the conflict?**
* **Dr. Khalil, Israel argues that Hezbollah embeds its infrastructure within civilian areas, thus justifying these attacks. How does international law define legitimate targets in armed conflict, and does this situation meet those criteria?**
**Section 3: Escalation and Potential for Peace**
* **Dr. Khalil, do these airstrikes suggest an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah? What are the potential consequences of such escalation, both regionally and internationally?**
* **Mr. Haddad, from your perspective on the ground, what are the prevailing sentiments among the Lebanese people regarding these airstrikes and the peace prospects?**
**Section 4: Humanitarian Concerns and International Response**
* **Mr. Haddad, the article highlights the destruction and suffering caused by these attacks. What immediate humanitarian needs are most pressing in Beirut, and how is the international community responding to the crisis?**
* **Dr. Khalil, what role should the international community play in mediating a peaceful resolution to this conflict? What steps could be taken to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire?**
**Concluding Remarks:**
We thank Dr. Khalil and Mr. Haddad for their valuable insights into this complex and pressing issue. This is a developing situation, and World Today News will continue to provide updates and analysis as events unfold. We urge our viewers to stay informed and engage in constructive dialogue around this critical issue.
