Recovery work continues after Israeli airstrike in Beirut

Recovery work was continuing on Monday morning after an Israeli airstrike struck a multi-story residential building in Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday, killing at least five people, including Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a senior Hezbollah military commander, and wounding at least 28 others.

Footage captured by China Media Group (CMG) showed workers beginning the arduous task of repairing the building that was badly damaged in the attack.

The footage shows the fifth floor of the building completely destroyed, with balconies collapsed and walls destroyed. Four distinct missile impact marks are visible on the building's facade, while the surrounding area is littered with debris. Local shops at street level also sustained damage from the blast.

The strike occurred in a densely populated residential zone without prior evacuation warnings to residents, contrary to previous Israeli operations in the area. Authorities have since cordoned off the site and initiated emergency evacuations after the disaster.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed Israeli forces had conducted a precision strike targeting Tabatabai, whom Israel identifies as Hezbollah's second-in-command responsible for military development and rearmament. The southern suburbs of Beirut have long been considered by Israel as a Hezbollah stronghold.

This attack comes just before the first anniversary of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement. Despite the truce, Israeli military operations have continued throughout Lebanon over the past year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations.