Israel launched a series of airstrikes in central Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday, striking areas outside the city’s southern suburbs. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that at least 22 people were killed and 117 others wounded in the attacks.
Hospitals in the surrounding neighborhoods have been overwhelmed with the influx of injured civilians. Medical centers, including the American University of Beirut Medical Center, have urged people not to come to donate blood as they are already overwhelmed.
Witnesses outside the medical center described scenes of chaos and trauma. "We saw streaks in the sky and then massive explosions," said one individual, recounting the terrifying moments of the attack. Others described people running in fear, with many visibly traumatized by the violence.
The strikes have driven approximately 700,000 people from Beirut’s southern suburbs, forcing them to seek shelter in the densely packed neighborhoods of central Beirut.
Lebanon's Health Ministry condemned Israel's airstrikes, after they indiscriminately targeted civilians and emergency responders. Health officials reported that since the beginning of Israeli genocidal war in Gaza in October 2023, more than 2,141 people have been killed and 10,099 wounded in Lebanon, including numerous women and children.
As hundreds of thousands of civilians continue to flee their homes, Lebanon’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, warned the country’s health minister.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued stark warnings, suggesting that Lebanon could face a prolonged conflict similar to the ongoing war in Gaza. "It could be a long war... like we see in Gaza," he said.