Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut and south Lebanon, destroying residential buildings, killing civilians, and escalating attacks on urban areas.

Key Developments

• Israeli airstrike destroyed a residential building in Beirut’s Bashoura, raising fears of civilian casualties despite prior evacuation warning.
• At least six people were killed and 24 injured in strikes targeting central Beirut neighborhoods, including Zuqaq al-Blat and Basta.
• Israeli raids expanded across southern Lebanon and Bekaa, with rising casualties and over 900 killed since escalation began.

Airstrike Levels Building in Central Beirut

An Israeli airstrike early Wednesday targeted a residential building in the Bashoura area in central Beirut, reducing it to rubble in what marks a significant escalation in attacks on the capital.

Footage circulating online showed the moment the building was struck, followed by its complete collapse and thick columns of smoke rising over the area.

According to reports, the strike occurred approximately an hour and a half after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings at around 4:00 AM, claiming the building was located near a Hezbollah facility.

❗️🇱🇧 BREAKING: A large building was leveled after Israeli airstrikes targeted the Bashoura area of Beirut. pic.twitter.com/v5yQhRKgZD

— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 18, 2026

Al-Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut said the explosion was heard across large parts of the city, including the southern suburbs, noting that the strike differed from previous attacks in that it targeted the entire building rather than a specific apartment.

The Bashoura district is a densely populated residential area, and the building had reportedly been targeted twice in earlier strikes just days before, raising further concerns over repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Civilian Casualties 

The airstrike in Bashoura came amid a broader wave of attacks on residential neighborhoods in central Beirut.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least six people were killed and 24 others injured in Israeli strikes targeting areas including Zuqaq al-Blat and Basta.

Earlier reports indicated that three people were killed in Zuqaq al-Blat, while two others were killed in Basta, with additional injuries reported.

Rescue teams have been working to recover remains from the rubble, with authorities stating that some victims will require identification through DNA testing, Al Mayadeen reported.

The strikes occurred shortly after midnight, hitting apartment buildings in densely populated areas, raising concerns about the growing toll on civilians.

Escalation Across South Lebanon

Israeli attacks have also intensified across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region.

Multiple areas, including Al-Shahabiya, Al-Aqabiya, and Qanarit in the Sidon district, were targeted in air raids that caused further casualties and damage to residential infrastructure.

In Baalbek, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported four people killed and seven injured following Israeli strikes.

In Haboush, in the Nabatiyeh district, three people were killed, one injured, and eight others remain missing.

Israeli forces also carried out a drone strike on a vehicle near the town of Ghazieh, south of Sidon, causing additional casualties that have yet to be fully confirmed.

According to official figures, since the escalation began on March 2, Israeli attacks have killed at least 912 people and wounded 2,221 others across Lebanon.

(PC, Al-Jazeera, Al Mayadeen, Lebanese Health Ministry)