Israeli Airstrikes Kill 22 in Beirut, as UN Warns of Growing Danger to Peacekeepers in Lebanon

 

Israeli airstrikes killed 22 people in central Beirut on Thursday, marking the deadliest attack on the city since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated. The strikes targeted a densely populated residential area that had not previously been hit, leaving behind significant destruction. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that 22 people, including a family of eight with three children, were killed, while 117 others were injured. Many of the victims had evacuated from southern Lebanon, seeking refuge in the capital.

The strikes reportedly targeted Wafiq Safa, a senior Hezbollah official, but he survived the attack, according to security sources. Israel issued a warning later that night, advising civilians in Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate specific buildings to avoid further danger. The Israeli military had earlier warned Lebanese civilians not to return to the southern regions of the country amid ongoing clashes.

Meanwhile, the United Nations raised concerns about the safety of its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN peacekeeping chief, told the Security Council that over 10,400 peacekeepers were in increasing danger as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified. Lacroix revealed that the UN had already relocated around 300 peacekeepers to larger bases for safety, following an Israeli attack that injured two UN peacekeepers. One contractor had also been killed in recent weeks.

UN officials condemned the attack on their positions, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law. In response, Israel’s military explained that it had instructed UN peacekeepers in the Naqoura area to remain in protected spaces before engaging in the firefight.

Despite the risks, UN peacekeepers remained committed to their mission, with spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stating that they would stay in Lebanon until it became impossible to operate. Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, recommended relocating the peacekeepers 5 kilometers north to reduce the danger, as fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border continued.

The conflict, which began a year ago when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Hamas during the Gaza war, has escalated sharply in recent weeks. Israel has expanded its military operations, launching strikes in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. Regional tensions remain high as the Middle East braces for further escalation.