Beirut Building Collapses After Israeli Strike
Israeli Airstrike Targets Beirut Building
A residential building in Chiyah, a southern suburb of Beirut, was completely destroyed by a missile from an Israeli fighter jet. The attack was part of a series of strikes on the region, following warnings and evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military to the building's occupants and the surrounding area.
International media correspondents, aware of the impending strike, were able to set up nearby and capture close-up footage of the event, including the missile's trajectory just moments before impact. The building subsequently collapsed within its own footprint.
Possible Use of Bunker-Busting Munition
The missile could have been a bunker-busting munition, considering the building's collapse onto itself, leaving no remnants.
Over the past few days, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) warplanes have been bombing locations alleged to be Hezbollah financing sources, including bank branches associated with the Shia organization.
However, public hospitals have also been targeted. The Israeli military has stirred controversy by claiming that Hezbollah conceals money or gold beneath these medical facilities.
UN Condemns Attack on Rafik Hariri University Hospital
The United Nations (UN) has expressed its outrage over an attack on Rafik Hariri University Hospital. UN rights chief Volker Turk demanded a "prompt and thorough investigation" into the deadly Israeli strike near the hospital, located in Beirut's densely populated Jinah neighborhood.
The Health Ministry of Lebanon confirmed that at least 18 people, including four children, were killed in the attack. The total number of Lebanese fatalities from Israeli attacks since the conflict began, including both civilians and combatants, is nearly 2,500.
Hezbollah Continues Drone Attacks on Haifa
In northern Israel, Hezbollah continues to launch numerous drones on the key port city of Haifa, triggering frequent alarms throughout the region.
The Israeli army has also confirmed the death of Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine in a previous airstrike on Beirut. Safieddine was widely expected to succeed Nasrallah as Secretary-General of Hezbollah.
Fierce Fighting Returns to Northern Gaza
In Gaza, intense fighting has resumed in the northern part of the Strip. Hamas has called on the international community to halt the "crime of forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, and massacres" occurring in northern Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Israel, hoping to negotiate a potential ceasefire, but the chances of this seem increasingly remote.
Bottom Line
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, with devastating consequences for civilians. The destruction of a residential building in Beirut and the bombing of a hospital have sparked international outrage, with calls for a thorough investigation into these incidents. As the violence continues to escalate, the prospect of a ceasefire seems increasingly remote. What are your thoughts on this ongoing conflict? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.
