Israel attacking civilian targets without warning has become almost de rigueur in Lebanon these days. Overnight, however, the surprise attacks reached a new level, with Israel leveling an 8-storey apartment building in Central Beirut with a bunker buster bomb.
The building was on Mamoun Street in the Basta al-Fawqa. The attack came at about 4:00 AM, and the explosion was so powerful it was felt all across the Lebanese capital city. At least 20 people have been killed, and over 70 wounded. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
The use of a bunker buster bomb on a plainly civilian target seems excessive, and it’s not clear why Israel chose this unassuming building in the crowded center of Beirut to hit with such powerful weaponry. Israel has not publicly commented on the matter.
Reports from Israeli media, however, suggest the attack aimed to kill Muhammad Haydar, who has risen to a high military position within Hezbollah, following assassinations of previous group leaders. However, Hezbollah insists neither Haydar nor any other Hezbollah members were in the building at the time.
The bunker buster bombs are meant for targeting heavily fortified, or underground, complexes. The residential building, however, was clearly not meant to withstand airstrikes, let alone massive bombings, and the result with a big crater in the center of the neighborhood.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem earlier this week said that the attacks on central Beirut, which began last week, justified Hezbollah attacks on central Tel Aviv. This week, a missile strike did damage to an area of the Tel Aviv District, but east of the city of Tel Aviv itself.
This all suggests that the war is continuing to escalate, and while US officials have expressed hopes about a ceasefire possibility, there is no sign of anything calming down.
