An eight-storey building in the middle of Beirut in Lebanon has been razed to the ground in an Israeli attack. 15 people have so far been confirmed dead and over 60 injured, reports Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
At the same time, there is still hope among the population for a ceasefire.
– Before a truce there is always a storm. This may be the storm before the truce. Only God knows, says Beirut resident Ali Sbaiti.
Six robots reportedly hit the house in the Basta district, according to Lebanon’s state news agency NNA. The attack left a large crater where an eight-story building stood until four o’clock local time in the morning. Rescue workers searched for missing people in the crowds well into Saturday.
15 people have so far been confirmed dead in the attack and over 60 injured.
The target must have been a Hezbollah leader
There are many indications that Israel used a bunker bomb to blow up the basement floors as well. Unconfirmed reports, including to the AFP news agency, say that the target of the attack was a high-ranking Hezbollah leader.
– If it was a Hezbollah leader, did he have the right to live here among ordinary people? Doesn’t he bear the responsibility for those who died or are dying, says a Beirut resident after the attack.
During the morning, attacks continued on the southern suburbs, where Hezbollah is present – in some cases, those residents were told in advance to leave.
Attacks also in southern Lebanon
On Saturday morning there were reports that south Beirut had also been attacked. The area has since been attacked in several rounds. In Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, eight people, including four children, have been killed in an Israeli attack on a residential building, according to Lebanon’s state news agency NNA.
Hezbollah also claims to have fired several rockets at northern Israel. Israel has not commented on the attack on Basta in central Beirut.
At the same time, there is still hope for a ceasefire among the population out on the streets.
– Before a truce there is always a storm. This may be the storm before the truce. Only God knows, says Beirut resident Ali Sbaiti.