At least 46 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut early Thursday, according to Lebanese health officials. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it was conducting a “targeted” attack to dismantle Hezbollah bases in the capital. The airstrikes destroyed over 150 plus infrastructure site belonging to Hezbollah. The IDF's attack comes after Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel on Tuesday night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhllsf136xk
According to a Times of Israel report, the target was an apartment building in the Bashoura neighbourhood, near parliament, marking the closest Israeli strikes to Lebanon’s seat of government.
This attack also marks the second time Israel has targeted central Beirut this week. Images from the scene revealed a heavily damaged building with a fire on one of the lower floors.
Israel Hezbollah War News Live Updates
Multiple strikes were also reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh, where the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings. However, the central Beirut area that was targeted was not included in those warnings. The IDF confirmed that military operations were underway in Beirut, stating that further details would be provided later.
US's Proposes 21-Day Ceasefire Plan
Amid rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon, the United States, along with its allies, has proposed a 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border. This initiative aims to prevent further escalation of conflict and provide an opportunity for diplomatic efforts, both in that region and in Gaza. The ceasefire proposal followed a meeting between US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron during the UN General Assembly in New York last week.
But, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected the proposal saying that the military will continue to fight with "full force". "We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force. And we will not stop until we reach all our goals, chief among them the return of the residents of the north securely to their homes." said Netanyahu.