Israel Bombs Lebanon 100 Times in 10 Minutes, Leaving Beirut in Ruins
In a devastating escalation of violence, Israel launched over 100 airstrikes on Lebanon within a mere 10 minutes today, targeting residential and commercial areas in central Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the eastern Bekaa valley. The attacks occurred just hours after a ceasefire was announced between the United States and Israel, with Israel asserting that the agreement does not cover its ongoing conflict with the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Scenes of Chaos and Destruction in Beirut
Black smoke billowed over the seaside capital as explosions interrupted traffic on a previously clear afternoon. Ambulances raced toward open flames, with emergency responders searching charred vehicles and at least one apartment building struck. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in Beirut’s central and coastal regions, causing panic in the streets.
Lebanon’s minister of social affairs, Haneed Sayed, described the strikes as hitting the heart of Beirut, where half of the internally displaced people had been sheltering. She reiterated the Lebanese government’s readiness to negotiate an end to hostilities, an offer previously made by the president, to which Israel has not yet responded.
Ceasefire Tensions and Regional Fallout
Earlier today, Iran threatened to withdraw from the US ceasefire agreement if Israel continues to violate it by attacking Lebanon. This comes after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border days following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, reigniting a prolonged regional conflict. Israel responded with widespread bombardment and a ground invasion, claiming to have killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.
The human toll is staggering: Israel has killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including over 100 women and 130 children, and displaced more than one million individuals. Early on Wednesday, after the ceasefire in Iran was announced, many displaced people in Beirut and Sidon began packing to return home, only to be halted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to continue military operations in Lebanon.
Voices from the Ground: Despair and Uncertainty
At a sprawling displacement camp on Beirut’s waterfront, families expressed confusion and despair amid the conflicting statements. Fadi Zaydan, 35, shared his anguish: We can’t take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty. He and his parents had prepared to return to Nabatieh but were stopped by Netanyahu’s comments, fearing they would be targeted if they went home.
As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear how many were killed or wounded in today’s strikes, but with several attacks in busy commercial locations, the devastation is expected to be severe. The international community watches closely as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, with no immediate resolution in sight.
