Israeli strikes on central Beirut have killed at least six people and injured 24, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah.
Israeli airstrikes struck central Beirut and its southern suburbs early March 18, 2026, killing at least six people and injuring 24 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
A loud explosion was reported in the Bashoura area, where a building was reduced to rubble, according to eyewitness accounts.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said one of the strikes hit an apartment in the Zokak al-Blat neighbourhood in central Beirut.
Another strike targeted the Basta district, with residents reporting multiple explosions.
The affected areas are located near key government institutions, including the finance ministry and the office of the prime minister.
The strikes also hit locations previously targeted, including sites linked to Hezbollah, a powerful political and militant group in Lebanon.
Last week, Israeli forces struck a branch of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financial institution associated with the group.
The latest strikes followed a warning issued by the Israeli military and came hours after Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel overnight.
The exchange marks a further escalation in cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict.
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