Israel is continuing to increase airstrikes against various neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital city of Beirut. Today, those strikes centered on the densely populated working-class quarter of Zoa al-Blat. This attack hit near al-Zahra Husseini a, a Shi’ite religious site.
The attack occurred late in the afternoon, and the Lebanese Health Ministry puts the current toll at five killed and 24 injured. The attack hit a residential apartment building behind the Husseiniya, causing substantial damage to the immediate area. Rescue efforts are still underway.
The Zoqaq al-Blat Quarter, which is home to multiple embassies, has taken in a large number of displaced civilians from southern and eastern Lebanon, fleeing their homes after Israel imposed evacuation orders. Israel continues to issue such orders over an ever-increasing area since its invasion.
Israel has yet to comment on today’s attack on central Beirut, and there is no indication what or who was the actual target. Israel, however, has attacked recently attacked a number of sites housing displaced civilians or refugees.
The targeted area is not in any designated evacuation zone, but Israel did not issue any warning to civilians in the area prior to the strike. The US envoy was scheduled to visit Beirut for ceasefire talks, but that has been delayed. It’s not clear if that delay is related to the attack.
The US and other nations have been pushing for a ceasefire to end the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Reportedly Israel is ruling out any deal that actually requires them to stop attacking targets inside Lebanon. Despite this restriction, there are some indications that Lebanon is still viewing the proposals somewhat favorably.
