Two witnesses have reported to CNN that an entire building collapsed in central Beirut following one of tonight’s strikes, stating that the structure was occupied by both long-term residents and people recently displaced by conflict.
Hassan, a witness interviewed outside a hospital near Beirut’s Upper Basta neighborhood, described the incident to CNN: “The bomb hit. And the entire building fell down. There were so many people in the building. Not just the residents but also people who were displaced from other parts of the country.”
A Lebanese security source had previously informed CNN that an Israeli strike had caused the collapse of a four-story building in Upper Basta. The incident has raised immediate concerns about potential civilian casualties and the targeting of residential areas in the ongoing conflict.
Outside the hospital, people gathered anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. Partim, a migrant worker from Bangladesh, told CNN, “I’m waiting for my brother and sister. They were the concierges of the building. I’m sure they’re ok.”
The scene outside the hospital was one of tension and worry, with friends comforting each other as they waited for information. “Don’t worry,” one man was overheard telling his friend. “I’m sure we’ll hear from her very soon.”
In Beirut’s Al Nuwairi neighborhood, the site of another strike, reports indicate that a building’s third floor was hit. Eyewitnesses described seeing firetrucks and ambulances near the affected building, while women carrying bags were observed fleeing the area.
These incidents mark a significant escalation in the conflict, with strikes now directly impacting densely populated urban areas in Beirut. The reported targeting of buildings housing civilians, including displaced persons, raises serious humanitarian concerns and questions about the conduct of military operations in residential zones.
