An Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in Beirut on Monday due to which tensions in the region have escalated to a new level. This incident marks the first attack within Beirut city limits amid increasing hostilities between Israel and Iran‘s allies.
The strike targeted the upper floor of a building in the Kola district, resulting in the deaths of at least two people, Reuters reported citing a security source.
Israel has been conducting frequent strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen, heightening concerns about a broader conflict in the region and may end up with the involvement of other players such as Iran and the United States.
On Sunday, Israel also launched airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen and various Hezbollah locations in Lebanon, following the killing of a Hezbollah leader.
As per the news agency AP, airstrikes were conducted on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and power plants, which Israel stated were in response to Houthi missile attacks on Ben Gurion airport. The Houthis reported four deaths and 40 injuries from these strikes and stated that they had taken precautions by emptying oil storage facilities.
Despite the airstrikes, the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks on shipping routes and Israel. Nasruddin Ammer, the deputy director of the Houthi media office, confirmed these intentions in a statement on X.
In Lebanon, authorities reported at least 105 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes on Sunday. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,000 Lebanese people have died, and 6,000 have been injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The government estimates that a million people, about a fifth of the population, have been displaced.
Israel has indicated that its operations aim to secure its northern areas following Hezbollah rocket attacks. Israeli airstrikes on Beirut have forced many families to seek refuge in public spaces like Zaitunay Bay.
Monday’s airstrike in the Kola district is noted as the first within Beirut city limits. Previously, Israeli attacks were primarily focused on southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Residents in Kola said Syrians fleeing bombardment had been living under a local bridge.
The US has pushed for a diplomatic solution while reinforcing its military presence in the region. US President Joe Biden emphasised the need to avoid a full-scale war, stating, “It has to be.”