A building in Tallet el Khayyat area in central Beirut, Lebanon, was left severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday, as rescuers raced against time to pull survivors from the rubble.
Israel carried out its heaviest strikes across Lebanon since the current round of conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, killing at least 254 people and injuring 1,165 others on Wednesday, hours after a two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire was announced. Both Israel and the United States have maintained that Lebanon is not included in the truce, although Pakistan, which mediated the agreement, and Iran said it does.
Ambulances struggled through rush-hour traffic to reach hospitals, while heavy machinery clawed at the debris and charred vehicles lay piled along the road, a grim reminder of the destruction surrounding the site.
Hospitals across Beirut and nearby areas issued urgent appeals for blood donations as medical facilities struggled to cope with the influx of injured civilians. Supplies are rapidly depleting amid the growing number of casualties, medical staff warned.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that Thursday, April 9, would be observed as a national day of mourning for the victims and injured.
All public administrations, institutions and municipalities will close, national flags will be lowered to half-staff, and radio and television broadcasts will be adjusted to reflect the mourning. Salam said he remains in contact with Arab leaders and international officials to mobilize political and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the attacks.
President Joseph Aoun urged the international community to act, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating ceasefire commitments and disregarding international law.
The Israeli military said the strikes were part of a new operation, dubbed "Eternal Darkness," targeting Hezbollah command centers in southern and eastern Lebanon as well as in Beirut. Defense Minister Israel Katz said operations in Lebanon would continue, treating the conflict there as separate from actions against Iran.
Israeli airstrike targets building in Beirut, causes casualties
