Israeli air strikes hit building in heart of Beirut

Israeli airstrikes hit a building in the heart of Beirut and Israel ordered residents out of another part of southern Lebanon, intensifying its attack on the Iran-linked Hezbollah group.

The airstrike at 17:30 hit a building in the Bachoura district, about 1 km from the Lebanese government’s Grand Serail headquarters in downtown Beirut.

Before the attack, the Israeli military issued a warning informing residents that they were near a Hezbollah facility it planned to attack.

Israel launched an air and ground offensive against Hezbollah last week; By launching attacks on Israel on March 2, Hezbollah said it aimed to avenge the killing of Iran’s religious leader at the beginning of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Hezbollah has fired rockets and drones at Israel every day since then, including its largest barrage late Wednesday, triggering heavy Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

According to Lebanese officials, Israel struck southern Lebanon, eastern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of the capital, killing more than 600 people.

It also ordered mass evacuations in the same areas, forcing more than 800,000 people from their homes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the army has been instructed to expand its operations in Lebanon.

“We promised silence and security to the communities in northern Israel, and we will deliver just that,” he said in a meeting with senior military officials.