Key Points
- Israel resumed strikes on central Beirut, killing 18 people and wounding 92, in an area not previously targeted.
- Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s main headquarters.
- The attack at Ras al-Naqoura was condemned by UNIFIL and the White House, now both pressing Israel for details.
Israeli strikes on central Beirut have killed 18 people and wounded at least 92, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as a Lebanese security source said at least one senior Hezbollah figure was targeted in the attacks.
A thick column of smoke rose in the heart of Beirut and Reuters witnesses said at least one strike on Thursday night hit near a gas station in a densely packed residential neighbourhood of apartment buildings and small shops.
A large fire blazed in the background as rescue workers used torches to search the rubble for survivors, according to video broadcast by Hezbollah’s al-Manar television.
The identity of the Hezbollah target was not clear.
There was no immediate comment on the incident by Israel, but its army issued a new evacuation warning on Thursday night for Beirut’s southern suburbs including specific buildings.
UN peacekeepers injured by Israeli tank fire
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two of its peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s main headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, hitting the tower and causing the peacekeepers to fall.
There were no casualties in two other incidents, a UN source said.
“Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law,” UNIFIL said in a statement, adding it was following up with the Israeli military.
The White House said the US was deeply concerned by reports that Israeli forces fired on UN positions and was pressing Israel for details.
Israel’s military said in a statement its troops operated in the Naqoura area, “next to a UNIFIL base.”
“Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, following which the forces opened fire in the area,” Israel’s statement said, adding it maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.
Hezbollah said it had fired missiles at Israeli forces on Thursday as they were trying to pull casualties out of the Ras al-Naqoura area, and they were directly hit.
In New York, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel recommends “UNIFIL relocate 5 kilometres north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies”.
Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,169 people in Lebanon over the last year, the Lebanese government said in its daily update.
The majority have been killed since 27 September, when Israel expanded its military campaign into Lebanon.
Hezbollah cross-border fire at Israel has killed 53 people over the same period, according to Israeli authorities.
