In a significant escalation of violence, Israel launched airstrikes on central Beirut in the early hours of October 3, 2024, killing at least six people and injuring seven.

The strikes targeted a building in the Bachoura neighborhood, which is near Lebanon’s parliament. This marked the closest Israeli strikes have come to Lebanon’s seat of government.

The attacks followed the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers during clashes with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, making it Israel’s deadliest day on the Lebanese front in the current conflict.

Hezbollah has been actively engaged in ground combat, reporting the destruction of Israeli tanks along the border. The ongoing hostilities are part of a broader regional conflict involving Hezbollah, Israel, and Iran-backed forces, with concerns that the situation could escalate further.