The conflict in Lebanon intensified this week after an Israeli air strike hit a major hotel in the heart of the capital, Beirut. The attack marked a major escalation, as it was the first time during the current fighting that a strike reached the busy city centre.
An Israeli drone strike targeted the Ramada Plaza Beirut Raouche, a well-known four-star hotel located in a crowded coastal area filled with restaurants, shops, and tourist spots. According to witnesses, the strike hit the fourth floor of the high-rise building without warning.
At the time of the attack, the area was busy with evening activity during Ramadan. People staying in nearby buildings and hotels rushed to their balconies and windows after hearing the explosion. Those walking in the streets quickly ran for cover as fear spread across the neighborhood.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a secret meeting taking place inside the hotel. Israeli officials claimed that the people killed in the attack were members of the Quds Force, the overseas operations unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. According to the Israeli military, five operatives were killed during the strike.
However, the Iranian government has strongly rejected the claim, saying the accusation is not true. Iranian officials denied that any of their operatives were present at the location.
The attack comes as fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah has intensified again in Lebanon. Over the past week, hundreds of Israeli air strikes have been reported across the country.
Most of the attacks have focused on areas where Hezbollah has strong influence. These include southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, which are known as important centers of the group and home to many members of the country’s Shia Muslim community.
Many of the strikes have caused serious destruction, with entire buildings collapsing in some locations. Reports indicate that nearly 500 people have been killed since the latest round of fighting began.
The strike in central Beirut has raised new concerns among residents, as it shows that the conflict is now reaching areas that were previously less affected. As tensions continue to grow, people across Lebanon remain worried about further attacks and the possibility of a wider regional conflict.