Israeli Airstrike Levels Residential Building in Beirut, Kills Six
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - An eight-story residential building in the Basta neighborhood of central Beirut was destroyed early Saturday after being struck by at least four Israeli missiles, killing six people and injuring 24, local authorities reported.
The massive explosion, reportedly caused by bunker-buster bombs, wreaked havoc on the densely populated area, which is home to many residents and displaced persons. Rescue teams are working to clear rubble on Al-Mamoun Street, where neighboring buildings have also sustained significant damage, prompting fears that the death toll could climb.
“Rescue teams are working to remove the rubble in Al-Mamoun Street in Basta, where enemy aircraft targeted a residential building, which led to a large number of martyrs and wounded,” Lebanon's National News Agency stated.
The Israeli army provided no prior evacuation warnings for the attack, which residents described as unprecedented in its intensity.
Hebrew media claimed the strike was a targeted assassination aimed at a “prominent Hezbollah leader,” with speculation online naming Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem or senior official Talal Hamiya as possible targets. However, no official confirmation has been issued.
The Basta strike followed a day of heavy Israeli bombardment in Lebanon, including airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in southern cities such as Tyre and Nabatieh, as well as the eastern Bekaa Valley. Reports indicate dozens of families have been killed in these ongoing attacks.
In the aftermath, Israel issued evacuation orders for the Al-Hadath, Choueifat, and Al-Amrousieh neighborhoods in southern Beirut, adding to the tension in the capital.
Meanwhile, Western media reported hints of a possible cease-fire agreement. The New York Times, citing anonymous US officials, suggested that Israel may be more open to a cease-fire in Lebanon than in Gaza due to a reassessment of its military options. However, the latest attacks raise questions about the likelihood of an imminent de-escalation.
Search and rescue efforts in Basta continue amid fears of more casualties beneath the rubble.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. These charges stem from criminal acts during the ongoing war against Gaza and Lebanon, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war.
