Israeli airstrike hits Beirut, leaving 4 dead and 23 injured

Israeli airstrikes targeted the central Beirut neighborhood of Basta early on Saturday, killing four and injuring 23 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

“Four people were martyred, and 23 others were injured in an airstrike by the Israeli enemy on the Basta area of Beirut,” the ministry said in a statement.

The official Lebanese National News Agency reported that the strike destroyed a residential building on Al-Mamoun Street in the district.

Rescue teams and emergency responders have been working to recover bodies and assist survivors amid the rubble. Several of those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where some remain in critical condition.

Israel has engaged in cross-border warfare with Lebanon, launching an air campaign in late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets.

Over 3,600 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 15,300 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.