Beirut rocked by intense Israeli attacks but ceasefire hopes remain high

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Beirut was shaken by an intense wave of Israeli bombing on Tuesday afternoon as the Lebanese capital was pummelled less than an hour before the Israeli security cabinet was set to vote on a proposed ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.
Simultaneous air strikes hit south Beirut on Tuesday one of the largest attacks of the war. Explosions could be heard across the city, with buildings shaking and plumes of smoke covering the capital. Ambulance sirens could be heard throughout the area.
At least seven people are confirmed to have been killed in an Israeli strike on central Beirut’s Noweiri neighborhood, and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The ministry added that search and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Later on Tuesday night, Israel issued an “urgent warning” for residents of four neighbourhoods in central Beirut to leave their homes if they are adjacent to or within 50 metres of buildings the army intends to attack in those areas.
This is the first bombing notice for central Beirut in nearly two months of full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Central Beirut has been struck on numerous occasions, usually without warning. Bombardment notices are typically issued for the southern suburbs on the outskirts of the capital and other parts of Lebanon.
The buildings bracing for strikes are in the Ras Beirut, Msaybte, Mazraa and Zoukak el Blat neighbourhoods.
“Back in 2006, they did the same,” said one resident, referring to Israel unleashing some of its worst attacks moments before a ceasefire with Hezbollah was agreed on 18 years ago.
Gunshots were fired into the air to warn residents to leave targeted areas immediately.
Simultaneous air strikes hit south Beirut earlier on Tuesday one of the largest attacks of the war. Explosions could be heard across the city, with buildings shaking and plumes of smoke covering the capital. Ambulance sirens could be heard throughout the area.
Earlier on Tuesday Lebanon’s official National News Agency said “a belt of fire is surrounding the southern suburbs, and the raids are targeting the areas” of Burj Al Barajneh, Haret Hreik and Hadath.
The Israeli army said it had launched large-scale strikes on Hezbollah sites, hitting 20 targets in 120 seconds using eight jet fighters.
The attacks came only minutes after Israel issued at least 20 eviction orders for areas of south Beirut. Israel’s Arabic-language spokesman said the buildings that were hit housed Hezbollah facilities and interests but did not provide evidence.
They began about 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued the displacement orders, with Israel striking a building in the central Beirut neighbourhood of Noweiri.
At least seven people were killed and 37 injured in the Noweiri attack, according to a toll from Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The strike hit a four-storey building housing people displaced by Israeli bombardment on other parts of Lebanon.
It is the fifth time in two weeks that Israel has bombed the centre of Beirut, with most of the previous attacks on the capital in the southern suburbs.
Hopes are growing that a US-mediated ceasefire could bring an end to nearly 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that has killed nearly 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced about 1.4 million. Tens of thousands have also been displaced from northern Israel.
In the last two months Israel has intensified its offensive, killing Hezbollah’s senior leadership, invading south Lebanon and devastating parts of the country.
The proposed ceasefire agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon’s army to deploy in the region within 60 days. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani river.
The Israeli security cabinet will meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the proposal.