Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut early Thursday, targeting the Bachoura neighborhood near Lebanon's parliament, marking the closest strike to the seat of government in recent clashes.
At least six people were killed, and seven others were injured, according to Lebanese health officials. This attack followed one of Israel's deadliest days on the Lebanese front, during which eight Israeli soldiers were killed in ground combat with Hezbollah near the southern border.
In addition to the strikes in Beirut, Israeli missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed the previous week.
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Lebanese officials reported that the southern areas had endured over a dozen airstrikes in the past 24 hours.
The ongoing conflict escalated after Iran launched its largest missile assault on Israel, firing over 180 missiles. In response, Israel launched retaliatory strikes and intensified ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces, including infantry and armored units, aimed to neutralize Hezbollah's infrastructure, but no broader invasion was planned.
The violence has resulted in the displacement of around 1.2 million Lebanese citizens, with over 1,900 people killed and 9,000 wounded in nearly a year of cross-border conflict, according to Lebanese authorities.
Hezbollah claimed to have destroyed Israeli tanks and repelled ground forces. Global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and the G7, have called for a proportional response and pushed for diplomatic solutions to prevent further regional escalation.
