Israel’s military has killed at least nine people in an air attack on central Beirut after suffering losses in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The attack on Lebanon’s capital occurred overnight, hitting a building in the residential district of Bashoura, not far from the parliament. Lebanese health officials said a further 14 people were wounded, with four still receiving treatment in hospital.
The attack is the second one on the Lebanese capital this week, with Hezbollah-aligned al-Manar TV station saying the high-rise building was linked to the armed group’s health unit.
The Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority said in an earlier statement that seven of its staff members, including two medics, were killed in the Beirut attack.
Reporting from the scene, Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan said the sound of the explosion “reverberated around the buildings and shocked everyone nearby”.