Israel strikes Beirut's Hamra, Mar Elias, Nweiri, Zokak al-Blat and Barbour
Lebanese state media reported a spate of Israeli air strikes on central Beirut Tuesday -- preceded by Israeli evacuation calls for the first time in two months of war -- ahead of a possible ceasefire.
The Israeli army issued evacuation warnings Tuesday for four buildings in Beirut's Zokak al-Blat, Mazraa (Nweiri), Msaitbeh, and Ras Beirut (Hamra), following an earlier strike without warning on a building housing displaced people in Nweiri - Basta al-Fawqa.
Shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet would agree to a truce with Hezbollah, Israel struck Nweiri for a second time. The three other areas have not been previously targeted throughout the war.
Israeli strikes also targeted Beirut’s commercial Hamra district, Mar Elias, and Zokak al-Blat.
An AFP video journalist saw smoke rising from the targeted building around 400 meters from Lebanon's Central Bank in the normally busy Hamra district, home to residential buildings, restaurants, offices, shops, the American University of Beirut and its associated hospital.
Three people were killed in a separate strike on Barbour. The strike was not preceded by an evacuation call.
The Israeli army said it is poised to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
"You are located near facilities belonging to Hezbollah, and the Israeli (armed forces) will be conducting air strikes targeting specific floors where designated terrorist infrastructure is located," army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X that included 4 maps.
The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic in Lebanon and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas.
Traffic was gridlocked in Beirut, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead.
Near Hamra, where many displaced by the war have been staying, families were seen running away toward the Mediterranean sea’s beaches carrying their belongings.
The Israeli army had announced that it will target Hezbollah's al-Qard al-Hassan branches in the coming hours.
Israel had already targeted in October al-Qard al-Hassan financial institution in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and the country's south.
Israel has targeted Beirut several times in recent weeks as it escalated its air campaign across Lebanon, but Tuesday was the first time it issued evacuation orders for Beirut residents.
Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and 13 people were injured in strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, as the Israeli army carried out airstrikes on at least 30 targets, including two strikes in the Jnah neighborhood near the Kuwaiti Embassy.
Source: Agence France Presse
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