Several people killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry says

Emergency teams work at the site of an Israeli strike that targeted Zuqaq al-Blat neighbourhood in Beirut, Lebanon on November 18, 2024.

At least five people were killed in an Israeli strike on a densely populated Beirut neighbourhood on Monday, according to Lebanon's health ministry. This marks the third attack in two days on Beirut's central districts. Israel has not commented on Monday's and Sunday's strikes in central Beirut, but confirmed one air raid in the area that killed militant group Hezbollah's spokesman.

Israel bombed central Beirut again Monday, killing five people a day after previously rare strikes in the same area killed 10, and as rocket fire from Lebanon killed one and injured others in Israel.

For weeks Israeli air strikes have pounded the now largely emptied southern Beirut stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah, but raids on the city centre had been relatively rare.

Israel escalated its bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds in late September, later sending in ground troops to Lebanon's south, and vowing to secure its northern border with Lebanon to allow Israelis displaced by cross-border fire to return home.

The second front opened even as Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip continues after more than a year.

He was expected this week, the sources said.


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