Israeli Strike on Beirut Health Center Kills Seven Rescuers

Late Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike devastated a Hezbollah-affiliated rescue facility in Beirut’s Bashoura district, killing seven paramedics, as reported by the Lebanese health ministry. The strike targeted a multi-story building that included an office of the Islamic Health Organization, a group associated with Hezbollah and comprising civilian first responders.

This attack, notably close to Beirut’s central downtown area—home to UN and government offices—marked a significant escalation, being one of the nearest strikes to this crucial district. According to the Islamic Health Organization, the airstrike not only resulted in deaths but also left several individuals wounded, destroying a floor of the building in the process.

Journalists from AFP in Beirut reported hearing a loud explosion that caused buildings to shake. This incident was part of a series of attacks that included another direct strike on the Islamic Health Organization within 24 hours, both of which occurred without prior warnings from Israel.

Typically, Israeli airstrikes have focused on the southern and eastern parts of Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas known for a strong Hezbollah presence. However, the scope of these attacks has expanded across Lebanon, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.

Following this particular attack, residents reported a sulfur-like odor, leading to accusations by Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency that Israel used internationally banned phosphorous bombs. There have been previous allegations by human rights groups against Israel for deploying white phosphorus incendiary shells in southern Lebanon’s conflict zones.

The Israeli military has not yet responded to these allegations or commented on the strike in central Beirut.

Additionally, Beirut’s southern suburbs endured severe bombings overnight. Israel executed three air raids just before midnight Wednesday, with the blasts audible from several kilometers away. Subsequently, residents in various parts of the densely populated southern Beirut received evacuation orders from the Israeli military, disseminated via social media.

The Lebanese health ministry disclosed that, over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes had killed 46 people and injured 85 across the nation. According to Lebanon’s disaster management agency, the death toll since the onset of cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah following the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, has reached 1,928.