BEIRUT — Central Beirut was targeted by fresh Israeli strikes in the early hours of Wednesday, for the second time since the start of the war, as Israel has continued its relentless bombardment of Lebanon. At least 19 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a residential building in central Beirut and locations in the east and south of the embattled country. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that strikes early on Wednesday killed seven people and wounded five in Tamnin al-Tahta, in the Baalbek district. NNA also reported three people were killed after a car was targeted by an Israeli drone in Saf al-Hawa, Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health also announced that seven people have been killed and 11 wounded in Israeli attacks on al-Shahabiya, southern Lebanon, overnight. One person was killed in an Israeli drone attack in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, according to the NNA and one person was killed in Zlaya, Bekaa, the ministry said. The number of casualties from the central Beirut attack on a multistorey building in the Aisha Bakkar area has not yet been confirmed but the attack appears to be another attempted assassination, according to an Al Jazeera reporter at the site. “We understand many people who live in this building are now in hospital. We are getting reports there have been deaths and injuries in this strike,” she said on Wednesday. According to Heidi Pett, also reporting for Al Jazeera from central Beirut, the strike destroyed “one or two floors” of the building instead of leveling it entirely, adding that there was no information yet on who the target was. “The building is still on fire. There are at least two apartments on fire, one on top of the other, and the damage is really extensive.” Israel carried out this strike without warning, she said. The Lebanese government says about 780,000 people have been displaced in the country, a punishing front in the wider regional war which started with the United States and Israel attacking Iran. Hezbollah said on Wednesday it launched another rocket attack on Israeli military positions south of Khiam in southern Lebanon. The group says it has repeatedly targeted Israeli military positions in the area in recent days. Israel and Hezbollah have traded heavy fire during the ongoing conflict, but the suffering has been hugely disproportionate. At least 570 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel renewed widespread attacks on the country last Monday. Two Israeli soldiers have so far been killed in Lebanon,with several people injured in Israel from Hezbollah rockets. According to NNA, other deadly attacks in the country overnight included some in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. Additionally, two Israeli air strikes hit the village of Hanaway, in the Tyre district, killing three civilians, including a paramedic, according to the Ministry of Public Health. — AgenciesBEIRUT — Central Beirut was targeted by fresh Israeli strikes in the early hours of Wednesday, for the second time since the start of the war, as Israel has continued its relentless bombardment of Lebanon. At least 19 people were killed in Israeli strikes on a residential building in central Beirut and locations in the east and south of the embattled country. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that strikes early on Wednesday killed seven people and wounded five in Tamnin al-Tahta, in the Baalbek district. NNA also reported three people were killed after a car was targeted by an Israeli drone in Saf al-Hawa, Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health also announced that seven people have been killed and 11 wounded in Israeli attacks on al-Shahabiya, southern Lebanon, overnight. One person was killed in an Israeli drone attack in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, according to the NNA and one person was killed in Zlaya, Bekaa, the ministry said. The number of casualties from the central Beirut attack on a multistorey building in the Aisha Bakkar area has not yet been confirmed but the attack appears to be another attempted assassination, according to an Al Jazeera reporter at the site. “We understand many people who live in this building are now in hospital. We are getting reports there have been deaths and injuries in this strike,” she said on Wednesday. According to Heidi Pett, also reporting for Al Jazeera from central Beirut, the strike destroyed “one or two floors” of the building instead of leveling it entirely, adding that there was no information yet on who the target was. “The building is still on fire. There are at least two apartments on fire, one on top of the other, and the damage is really extensive.” Israel carried out this strike without warning, she said. The Lebanese government says about 780,000 people have been displaced in the country, a punishing front in the wider regional war which started with the United States and Israel attacking Iran. Hezbollah said on Wednesday it launched another rocket attack on Israeli military positions south of Khiam in southern Lebanon. The group says it has repeatedly targeted Israeli military positions in the area in recent days. Israel and Hezbollah have traded heavy fire during the ongoing conflict, but the suffering has been hugely disproportionate. At least 570 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel renewed widespread attacks on the country last Monday. Two Israeli soldiers have so far been killed in Lebanon,with several people injured in Israel from Hezbollah rockets. According to NNA, other deadly attacks in the country overnight included some in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold. Additionally, two Israeli air strikes hit the village of Hanaway, in the Tyre district, killing three civilians, including a paramedic, according to the Ministry of Public Health. — Agencies
