Lebanese state media reported a spate of Israeli air strikes on central Beirut Tuesday -- preceded by Israeli evacuation calls for the first time in two months of war -- ahead of a possible ceasefire.
The Israeli army issued evacuation warnings Tuesday for four buildings in Beirut's Zokak al-Blat, Mazraa (Nweiri), Msaitbeh, and Ras Beirut (Hamra), following an earlier strike without warning on a building housing displaced people in Nweiri - Basta al-Fawqa.
Shortly after the warnings, Israel struck Nweiri for a second time. The three other areas have not been previously targeted throughout the war.
Three people were killed in a strike on Barbour.
Israeli aircraft later targeted Beirut’s commercial Hamra district, the Mar Elias area near al-Shami bakery, and Zokak al-Blat, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet would agree to a truce with Hezbollah.
An AFP video journalist saw smoke rising from the targeted building in the normally busy Hamra district, home to residential buildings, restaurants, offices, shops, the American University of Beirut and its associated hospital.
The Israeli army said it is poised to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
"You are located near facilities belonging to Hezbollah, and the Israeli (armed forces) will be conducting air strikes targeting specific floors where designated terrorist infrastructure is located," army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X that included 4 maps.