Lebanon has been drawn into the Middle East war after Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in response to US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has resulted in intense strikes in multiple Lebanese regions and ground operations in the south, with Israel targeting the country’s south, according to the Israeli military.
A recent strike in the early hours of Wednesday hit an apartment in the central Zuqaq al-Blat neighbourhood, a densely populated area close to the government’s headquarters and several embassies, killing at least six people and wounding 24, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry. The strike occurred near where the Israeli military last week hit a Beirut branch of the Hezbollah-linked financial firm Al-Qard Al-Hassan.
Israeli Military Strikes
The Israeli military has been targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, with the latest strikes hitting residential buildings in central Beirut. The Lebanese official National News Agency (NNA) reported that two other strikes targeted two apartments in the central Basta district, another densely populated area that Israel struck during a 2024 war with Hezbollah. An AFP correspondent saw first responders at the scene in Basta, where the walls of apartments on two adjacent floors appeared to have been blasted off.
Humanitarian Concerns
The conflict has raised humanitarian concerns, with the Lebanese health ministry reporting a preliminary toll for both strikes of six dead and 24 wounded. Human remains at the scenes would require DNA testing to determine their identity, the ministry added. The United Nations has called for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities in the region.
As the conflict continues, the impact on civilians is a major concern. The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of the risks of humanitarian crises in the region. The organisation has called for all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to take steps to protect civilians.
- The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 912 people.
- Intense strikes have been reported in multiple Lebanese regions.
- Ground operations have been conducted in the south of Lebanon.
