Lebanon stated Israel struck central Beirut early Wednesday (March 18, 2026) with out warning, killing no less than six individuals, because the Israeli army introduced it was concentrating on the nation’s south.
Lebanon was drawn into the West Asia struggle on March 2 when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets in the direction of Israel in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Israel has responded with intense strikes in a number of Lebanese areas and floor operations within the south, and has hit central Beirut a number of occasions, with and with out warning.
Lebanon’s official Nationwide Information Company (NNA) stated a strike within the early hours of Wednesday (March 18, 2026) hit an condominium within the central Zuqaq al-Blat neighbourhood, a densely populated space near the federal government’s headquarters and several other embassies.
It stated the strike occurred close to the place the Israeli army final week hit a Beirut department of the Hezbollah-linked monetary agency Al-Qard Al-Hassan.
In final week’s strike, the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning prematurely, however no such warning was given earlier than the most recent raid.
The NNA stated two different strikes focused two flats within the central Basta district, one other densely populated space that Israel struck throughout a 2024 struggle with Hezbollah.
An AFP correspondent noticed first responders on the scene in Basta the place the partitions of flats on two adjoining flooring appeared to have been blasted off.
Lebanon’s well being ministry reported a preliminary toll for each strikes of six lifeless and 24 wounded. Human stays on the scenes would require DNA testing to find out their identification, the ministry added.
New warnings
The Israeli army subsequently issued an evacuation warning for a constructing in central Beirut’s Bashoura neighbourhood.
An accompanying map indicated the goal constructing was the identical one which Israel’s military struck final Thursday additionally after an evacuation warning, inflicting harm however with out destroying it.
The NNA later stated that the constructing was hit, as AFP correspondents heard a blast and AFPTV footage confirmed smoke billowing from the realm.
The Bashoura space is adjoining to Beirut’s industrial centre, the place many massive corporations and authorities establishments are primarily based, and can also be close to residential buildings and meals shops. Native media reported gunfire within the space, to wake individuals who had been asleep within the pre-dawn hours.
The NNA additionally reported strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold which Israel has pounded in current weeks.
Additionally early Wednesday (March 18, 2026), the Israeli army stated it had “begun hanging Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon” together with within the Tyre space.
Native media stated Israel’s military struck a constructing in Aaqbiyeh, close to the coastal metropolis of Sidon, additionally after an evacuation warning.
Late Tuesday, Israel’s military had issued an evacuation order for a lot of the southern metropolis of Tyre in addition to swathes of surrounding areas, saying it deliberate to “act forcefully” in opposition to Hezbollah.
Bilal Kashmar, media coordinator for Tyre’s catastrophe administration unit, informed AFP there was panic after the warning.
Many households remained put, together with in a number of Palestinian refugee camps, regardless of earlier Israeli military evacuation requires swathes of south Lebanon, he stated, whereas round 11,000 displaced individuals have taken refuge within the space.
On Tuesday (March 16, 2026), the well being ministry reported 4 lifeless in a strike within the jap metropolis of Baalbek, and 4 Syrians lifeless in a strike on Jibsheet within the nation’s south.
The NNA stated a strike on the southern city of Habboush killed no less than three individuals.
Israel stated late Tuesday (March 16, 2026) it struck Hezbollah websites “all through Lebanon” after a collection of air raid sirens in northern Israel, with Hezbollah saying it had launched a wave of assaults.
In keeping with Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes have killed no less than 912 individuals since March 2, whereas multiple million individuals have registered as displaced, with greater than 130,000 staying in official shelters.
Revealed – March 18, 2026 09:49 am IST