Israel launches attack on central Beirut amid escalating violence in Lebanon

Israel Conducts Strikes in Beirut’s Central District

A series of airstrikes by Israel targeted central Beirut’s Bashoura neighbourhood and southern suburbs on Thursday, sending large plumes of smoke into the air. The Israeli military also issued a warning to evacuate a building in Zuqaq al-Blat, another area in the city centre.

The strikes mark an escalation in a week and a half of intensified bombing across Lebanon, which has resulted in at least 687 civilian fatalities and over 1,500 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. More than 800,000 people have been displaced due to the violence, with many seeking shelter in schools or tents along the waterfront.

The Israeli military launched a widespread aerial and ground assault against Lebanon, describing it as a campaign against Hezbollah. The Lebanese armed group has responded with rocket strikes against Israel, including a large salvo on Wednesday evening coordinated with Iran.

The United Nations and humanitarian groups have reported that Lebanese civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict. Displaced families from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs have been staying in shelters or tents, with many unable to return to their homes due to damage caused by previous strikes.

Separately, an Israeli drone strike on a Lebanese University building in Hadath killed two academics. The situation remains dire, with 90 percent of government shelters full and many people facing financial hardship as day labourers without income.

Source: Al Jazeera