Several people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, including at least eight in attacks on Beirut’s seafront area, far from the Hezbollah stronghold that has been the main target of Israel’s bombardment.
The strikes were reported during a night of heavy bombing across the Lebanese capital. Loud explosions were heard in the Dahia area of southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold from where thousands of residents have already fled amid intensified Israeli attacks.
Some of the airstrikes also hit other parts of Beirut, including the Corniche seafront at Ramlet al-Baida.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed in what appeared to be a direct strike on a car. Reports suggested that a second strike occurred after people gathered at the scene to assist the victims, causing additional casualties.
There had been no specific warning about the attack in the beachfront area, where hundreds of people displaced by the conflict in other parts of Lebanon had been staying in makeshift shelters.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it fired more than 100 rockets toward Haifa and other areas of northern Israel as Israel signalled plans to intensify its air campaign against the group.
According to reports, the rocket barrage appeared to be a coordinated operation between Hezbollah and Iran, described as the first joint action against Israel since the conflict began.
#With inputs from BBC