Israel Levels Six Buildings in Beirut Without Warning

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least one person was killed and five others injured as Israel carried out 17 unannounced airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight, leveling six buildings.

The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hezbollah weapons production facilities in southern Beirut’s Dahiyeh area. The raids mark an escalation in the conflict, with Israel increasingly targeting infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.

Among the buildings destroyed was the Lebanon office of pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen media outlet. Israeli strikes have expanded beyond military infrastructure to economic and civilian targets associated with the group.

In southern Lebanon, a Lebanese officer and two soldiers were killed in an Israeli raid in Bint Jbeil, according to Lebanon’s military. The ongoing conflict has resulted in hundreds of buildings being destroyed in recent weeks, with devastation compared to the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

On Wednesday, Israel launched at least four airstrikes on the Lebanese port city of Tyre, following its expansion of evacuation orders to cover additional central neighborhoods. Footage showed thick black smoke rising from a seafront area located only a few hundred meters from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins.

According to the Israeli military, the strikes targeted Hezbollah command-and-control centers, including the group's Southern Front headquarters. Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel since October 8, 2023, in support of Palestinians, following a deadly attack on Israel by Hamas.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that over 2,500 people have been killed since the conflict escalated, with 1,900 deaths occurring in the last five weeks. Israeli authorities report 59 fatalities in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

Paris Aid Conference Seeks €500M for Lebanon

International efforts to de-escalate the conflict, including a recent mission by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, have so far failed. Meanwhile, an aid conference in Paris aims to raise €500 million to assist Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction, with France pledging €100 million. Despite the aid effort, political progress remains unlikely as both Israel and Hezbollah refuse to compromise.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for a ceasefire and called for full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict and requires the removal of all armed groups from southern Lebanon except the national army.