BEIRUT: Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least six people, following its troops suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes with Hezbollah.
Israel said that it carried out an air strike on Beirut. Reuters reported hearing a huge explosion, and a security source stated it targeted a compound in central Beirut’s Bachoura neighbourhood close to parliament, the nearest Israeli attacks have come to Lebanon’s seat of government.
Hezbollah Battles Israeli Military
Lebanese health officials stated that at least six people were killed and seven injured in the attack. Reuters reported that three missiles hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated last week, and loud blasts were heard, according to Lebanese security officials.
A day following Tehran fired over 180 missiles into Israel, Israel said on Wednesday eight troops were killed in ground offensive in south Lebanon as its troops thrust into its northern neighbour. According to media reports, Iran’s missile strike and Israel’s pledge of retaliation raised concerns that Middle East could be caught up in a broader conflict.
In a statement, Hezbollah said that its fighters engaged Israeli troops inside Lebanon. Hezbollah added it had also destroyed around three Israeli Merkava tanks with rockets near the border area of Maroun El Ras.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that Israeli air strikes killed around 46 people in the south and centre of the country over the last 24 hours.
Tehran said on Wednesday its missile volley was over barring further provocation, but Israel and the US pledged to hit back hard. However, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he would not support any Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites in reply to its ballistic missile strike and urged Israel to act “proportionally” against its regional arch-enemy.
The White House said that Biden has joined a call with Group of Seven major power leaders on Wednesday to coordinate a response, including new sanctions against Iran.
Over 1,900 people have been killed and more than 9,000 injured in Lebanon in almost a year of cross-border fighting, with most of the deaths taking place in the last two weeks, Lebanese government said.