Central Beirut was hit by massive Israeli airstrikes

Lebanese media said Israel launched major airstrikes on central Beirut and there were reports of several deaths.

According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), an eight-story residential building was completely destroyed by five rockets in the Basta district of the capital.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar media outlet quoted the Lebanese Health Ministry as saying four people were killed and 23 injured. Videos have now emerged that allegedly show the ruins of a building.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported attacks early Saturday.

The major Israeli attack occurred at around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Saturday, and explosions rocked the city.

In the dark, emergency teams searched the site in Basta, a densely populated area.

Footage shows a plume of smoke rising from a large crater after a building collapsed.

In recent months, Israeli airstrikes have killed several top Hezbollah members in Beirut, including group leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began a major offensive against Hezbollah in September, carrying out air strikes and also sending troops into southern Lebanon.

Hostilities escalated after Iran-backed Hezbollah fired multiple rounds of rockets into Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian group that carried out the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

Israel’s stated goal in the fight against Hezbollah is to allow the return of some 60,000 residents who have been displaced from communities in northern Israel because of the group’s attacks.

In Lebanon, the conflict has killed more than 3,500 people and forced more than a million to flee their homes, Lebanese authorities said.

Earlier this week, a US mediator visited both Israel and Lebanon in an effort to secure a ceasefire.

Amos Hochstein said some progress has been made – but has not commented publicly on any details.