Lebanon: Beirut’s southern suburbs bombarded by Israeli strikes

New Israeli strikes have targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, resulting in significant destruction and raising concerns about an escalation of conflict. The strikes have flattened buildings and led to casualties, with reports indicating that earlier attacks on apartment buildings in the Zuqaq al-Blat and Al-Basta areas killed at least six people and injured 24 others, according to Lebanese authorities. A loud explosion was also reported in central Beirut following an Israeli strike on a building in the Bachoura neighborhood, which occurred shortly after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for the area. In addition to the strikes in Beirut, an Israeli air strike early on Wednesday hit a four-storey residential building in the city of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, resulting in several deaths and injuries. The Israeli military has stated that it is conducting ground operations in southern Lebanon, targeting key locations to expand its forward defense zones amid ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group. The situation has prompted the UN refugee agency to declare a "major humanitarian emergency" in West Asia. As tensions escalate, Iran has threatened to retaliate against Gulf energy facilities following an Israeli attack on its offshore gasfield, which has been described by a Qatar foreign ministry spokesman as a "dangerous, irresponsible step." The ongoing conflict and military actions have created a precarious humanitarian situation in the region.