Witness in Beirut: Felt like the house was going to collapse

An eight-story building in the middle of Beirut has been leveled to the ground in an Israeli attack. At least 20 people have been killed and over 60 injured, reports Lebanon's Health Department. It felt like the building was going to collapse on top of us, says an eyewitness. A Hezbollah leader is believed to have been Israel's target.

» Published:

Witness in Beirut: Felt like the house was going to collapse
Photo: Hussein Malla/AP/TT

Share this article

The final death toll will not be clear until the many body parts that have been dug up have been identified, according to the Health Department.

Six rockets are said to have hit the house in the Basta district, according to Lebanon's state news agency NNA. The attack left a massive crater where rescue workers were searching for missing people in the rubble late into Saturday.

A 60-year-old man who lives in the house opposite describes how he was forced to flee with his wife and children in the middle of the night.

The attack was so powerful that it felt like the building was going to collapse over us, he tells AFP.

We saw two dead people on the ground. The children started crying and their mother cried even more.

Possible Bunker Bombs

It is relatively rare for Israeli attacks to target central Beirut. Usually, areas further south in the capital are attacked, where the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah has its strongest strongholds.

Several media outlets report that the target of the attack may have been a high-ranking Hezbollah leader, likely Mohammed Haidar, leader of the movement's so-called "jihad council". According to reports, the attack – which was not preceded by any warning – may have been carried out with bunker bombs, which dig deep into the ground before detonating.

The Lebanese security source confirms to AFP that the target of the attack was a "leading Hezbollah figure". It has not been possible to confirm whether he was killed, the source says.

However, Hezbollah politician Amin Sherri claims that none of the movement's high-ranking officials were in the building when it was bombed, writes L'Orient-Le Jour.

Children Killed in Eastern Lebanon

On Saturday morning, reports emerged that southern Beirut had also been attacked. The area has since been attacked several times during the day.

In Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, eight people, including four children, were killed in an Israeli attack on a residential building, according to NNA.

Several people have also been killed in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.

In total, at least 30 people have been killed in southern and eastern Lebanon during the day, according to the country's Health Department.

Hezbollah claims to have fired several rockets at northern Israel.

Israel has not commented on the attack on Basta in central Beirut.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Starmer Condemns Violence and Racism After London Protest

Starmer Condemns Violence and Racism After London Protest

Russian Fishing Vessel Rescued After Power Failure in Danish Waters

Russian Fishing Vessel Rescued After Power Failure in Danish Waters

Ukraine Linked to Russian Train Sabotage Causing Fatalities and Disruptions

Ukraine Linked to Russian Train Sabotage Causing Fatalities and Disruptions

Gaza Residents Flee Amid Escalating Conflict and Overcrowded Camps

Gaza Residents Flee Amid Escalating Conflict and Overcrowded Camps

Explosion in Madrid Leaves One Dead and 25 Injured

Explosion in Madrid Leaves One Dead and 25 Injured

Ukrainian Drones Target Major Russian Oil Refinery Near St. Petersburg

Ukrainian Drones Target Major Russian Oil Refinery Near St. Petersburg

15 Dead in Truck Crash Involving Passenger Car in Southeastern Mexico

15 Dead in Truck Crash Involving Passenger Car in Southeastern Mexico

Nepal's First Female Leader Sushila Karki Promises Six-Month Term

Nepal's First Female Leader Sushila Karki Promises Six-Month Term

Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona on September 21

Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona on September 21

Love Motive Suspected in Charlie Kirk's Murder Investigation

Love Motive Suspected in Charlie Kirk's Murder Investigation

US Expert: Polarization No Longer Describes America's Divisions

US Expert: Polarization No Longer Describes America's Divisions

New Vaccine Offers Hope Against Chlamydia for Australia's Koalas

New Vaccine Offers Hope Against Chlamydia for Australia's Koalas

Zelenskyj Urges Allies to Strengthen Sanctions on Russian Oil

Zelenskyj Urges Allies to Strengthen Sanctions on Russian Oil

Sudan Government Rejects Peace Plan Excluding Warring Parties

Sudan Government Rejects Peace Plan Excluding Warring Parties

Rubio Affirms US Support for Israel Amid Qatar Attack Concerns

Rubio Affirms US Support for Israel Amid Qatar Attack Concerns

Venezuela Accuses USA of Harassing Fishermen in Economic Zone

Venezuela Accuses USA of Harassing Fishermen in Economic Zone

Mother Admits to Killing Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand

Mother Admits to Killing Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand

Russian Drone Enters Romanian Airspace Amid Ukraine Conflict

Russian Drone Enters Romanian Airspace Amid Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian Drone Hits Major Russian Oil Refinery Causing Fire

Ukrainian Drone Hits Major Russian Oil Refinery Causing Fire

Poland Conducts Air Maneuver After Russian Airspace Violation

Poland Conducts Air Maneuver After Russian Airspace Violation