Israel Hits Central Beirut Following Fatal Clashes With Hezbollah

Israel conducted airstrikes in Beirut early Thursday, resulting in at least six deaths and seven injuries. The strikes targeted a building in the Bachoura district, close to the Lebanese parliament, marking the closest Israeli attack to central Beirut amidst ongoing tensions with Hezbollah.

Witnesses reported hearing a massive explosion, while a photo shared on Lebanese social media depicted a heavily damaged building ablaze. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN special coordinator in Lebanon, described the atmosphere in the city as filled with anxiety and fear, with residents unsettled by the absence of warning sirens during the blasts.

In response to the escalating violence, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani called for urgent ceasefire negotiations, condemning Israel’s actions as “aggression” and emphasizing that peace in the Middle East is unattainable without a Palestinian state. He characterized the situation as a “collective genocide,” reiterating concerns about Israel’s perceived impunity.

Additionally, three missiles struck the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week. In a related development, Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv, asserting that the operation successfully reached its target without interception.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed intercepting a suspicious aerial target in central Israel and advised residents of Lebanese villages to remain evacuated as military operations continue.