Israeli Strike Hits Beirut Apartment, Tensions Escalate

An Israeli airstrike struck an apartment building in central Beirut early Wednesday, injuring four people and further expanding Israeli attacks beyond Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, Lebanese authorities said.

The strike targeted a residential building in the Aicha Bakkar neighbourhood around 5:30 a.m. local time. Footage from the scene showed heavy damage to two floors of the building, with smoke rising from the structure.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, four people were wounded in the attack. Residents in nearby buildings described moments of panic after the powerful explosion.

“The sound was indescribable, the fear is indescribable. Enough is enough. This is a nightmare,” said Bassima Ramadan, a resident living across the street who woke up when the strike occurred.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding the latest strike.

This incident marks the second Israeli strike in central Beirut within four days. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike hit a hotel in the coastal Raouche neighbourhood. The Israeli military later said that attack killed five senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the force that helped establish Hezbollah in 1982.

Meanwhile, heavy Israeli bombardment continued overnight in Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, an area considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. Large plumes of smoke were seen rising across the skyline as the strikes continued.

Israel has also issued evacuation orders for residents in Dahiyeh, as well as parts of southern Lebanon and eastern regions where Hezbollah holds strong influence.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed at least 570 people across the country. On Wednesday morning, Israeli attacks killed seven people in the eastern Bekaa Valley and another seven in southern Lebanon, according to the health ministry.

The ongoing strikes have displaced around 700,000 people. Authorities say about 100,000 of them are currently staying in organized shelters, while many others are living with relatives, friends, or temporarily staying on the streets after fleeing their homes.

In response to the humanitarian crisis, France announced it will send 60 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Lebanon. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the assistance on Wednesday.

The Israeli military says it has carried out hundreds of strikes against Hezbollah targets since March 2. These operations have mainly focused on southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley.

Israel has also deployed additional troops near the Lebanese border, including the elite Golani Brigade. Some Israeli forces have remained in southern Lebanon since 2024, where the military says it has established forward defensive positions to prevent potential Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.