Israeli Airstrikes on Beirut’s Ras el-Nabaa: 22 Killed, 117 Injured
Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s Ras el-Nabaa neighborhood late Thursday, killing 22 people and injuring 117, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. The attacks targeted two residential buildings without warning, one of which housed displaced families. The health ministry confirmed the death toll and injuries, adding that rescue operations are ongoing.
The air raid also hit the Burj Abi Haidar area, where an eight-story building collapsed under the strikes. Media reports suggest the attack aimed to target a “Hezbollah figure” following a string of killings of the Iran-backed group’s officials. The strikes left the area in ruins, with rescue teams scrambling to search for survivors under the debris.
Israel, through its government social media posts, justified the attack, stating that Hezbollah was stockpiling weapons in southern Lebanon, allegedly planning a larger massacre than the October 7 attack. Israel’s forces are reportedly dismantling Hezbollah’s network “terrorist by terrorist, weapon by weapon,” to prevent future assaults.
This latest escalation marks a significant spike in violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Both sides have exchanged attacks in recent days, raising concerns of a broader conflict spilling over into Lebanon. With tensions rising across the region, Lebanon’s government condemned the strikes, calling for international intervention to stop further violence.
The targeted areas were densely populated, and the strikes have displaced many families. Hospitals in Beirut are overwhelmed, treating the injured and struggling to accommodate the surge in patients. Local authorities and international organizations are coordinating efforts to provide shelter and medical aid to those affected.
This incident intensifies the ongoing Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, further destabilizing an already fragile region. Both Israel and Hezbollah remain firm in their positions, with the potential for more retaliatory attacks in the coming days. The international community watches closely as the situation develops, urging restraint on all sides to avoid a larger-scale war.