Israeli airstrikes in Beirut have killed at least six people and wounded more than 20 others, according to Lebanese authorities, as Israel intensifies its campaign against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Lebanon’s health ministry said the casualties resulted from strikes in central districts of the capital early on Wednesday, marking a further expansion of Israeli operations beyond the city’s southern suburbs. Central districts targeted overnightThe attacks struck multiple areas across Beirut in the early hours. An airstrike at around 1:30 a.m. hit the Zuqaq al-Blat district, destroying several floors of a residential building. A separate strike in the nearby Basta area caused heavy damage to at least two floors of another building. No advance warning was reported for either of these attacks, which together accounted for the six fatalities and 24 injuries cited by officials. Later, at approximately 5:30 a.m., a more powerful strike levelled an entire building in the Bachoura neighbourhood, close to the city centre. The Israeli military had issued a warning ahead of that attack, identifying the site as a Hezbollah-linked facility. No immediate casualties were reported from that strike. Expanding scope of strikesWhile Israeli operations in Beirut have largely focused on the southern suburbs, which are considered a stronghold of Hezbollah, there have been a growing number of strikes in central areas since the conflict widened earlier this month. Explosions were also reported overnight in the southern outskirts of the capital, where heavy bombardment lit up the skyline. The escalation follows the broader regional conflict that intensified on 2 March, when Hezbollah entered the war in support of Iran. Rising toll across LebanonLebanese authorities say more than 900 people have been killed nationwide since the start of the latest hostilities, with over one million residents displaced. Further strikes were reported outside the capital. In the eastern city of Baalbek, four people were killed, while additional attacks in southern Lebanon left 10 dead across three locations, according to state media citing the health ministry. Israel has also reported casualties among its forces, stating that two soldiers were killed during operations in southern Lebanon. However, there have been no confirmed civilian deaths in Israel linked to Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks. Ongoing regional tensionsThe continued exchanges highlight the intensifying confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about further escalation across the region. As strikes extend deeper into Beirut, the risk to civilians and infrastructure in densely populated areas remains a growing concern.
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