Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s Bachoura, close to Lebanese PM’s palace

Israeli airstrikes targeted the Bachoura district in central Beirut overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, hitting a center of the Islamic Health Committee (IHC), an organization affiliated with Hezbollah. The strikes occurred just a kilometer away from the Lebanese prime minister’s palace, raising concerns about the proximity of the attack to key government institutions.

The Ministry of Health has reported six dead and seven injured in the attack, which marks the second Israeli strike on Beirut in just three days. While the exact impact point may have been even closer to the prime minister’s residence, the strikes primarily targeted the IHC center in Bachoura.

This escalation follows an Israeli airstrike earlier in the week that hit the Cola area of Beirut, killing three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). As tensions rise, central and southern Beirut continue to endure violent raids, with the southern suburbs also experiencing a fresh wave of strikes. Five strikes reportedly hit areas around Chiyah and the “Americans” neighborhood, with no evacuation notices issued for these areas.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, had earlier issued evacuation orders for three neighborhoods—Haret Hreik, Bourj el-Barajné, and western Hadath—adding to the atmosphere of fear in the city.

The proximity of the strikes to the prime minister’s palace underscores the growing risks in Beirut, as critical government infrastructure lies close to the affected zones. This latest round of violence highlights the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Israeli military also conducting raids in the Bekaa Valley, targeting areas near Baalbeck and Zahle.

In retaliation, Hezbollah launched two separate attacks, claiming to have hit Israeli targets. The first strike targeted Israeli soldiers at the Hanita position, while the second hit Israeli troop movements near Misgav Am.