In a devastating escalation of violence, Israeli air strikes in central Beirut on Thursday evening have resulted in 22 fatalities and wounded at least 117 individuals, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Survivors recall horrific scenes of destruction as loud explosions reverberated through the capital, particularly in the Shia neighborhood of Bachoura, where rescuers tirelessly sifted through the rubble to locate victims.

Eyewitness accounts detail the chaos that erupted as ambulances rushed injured individuals to the American University hospital, amidst the cries for help from those trapped under wreckage. Reports have emerged suggesting that the strikes may have aimed at Wafiq Safa, a senior security official and the brother-in-law of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, Hezbollah’s media office has yet to confirm or comment on this aspect of the attack.

The strikes targeted densely populated residential areas in Bachoura, particularly affecting the neighborhoods of Nweiri and Basta. This unforeseen violence broke a brief period of relative calm after weeks of intensive military engagement in Beirut.

Israel has conducted air strikes on Beirut before in its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, mainly concentrated in the southern suburb of Dahieh, where the Israeli military has historically targeted Hezbollah command centers and ammunition storage facilities.

Adding to the day’s alarming events, two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured in southern Lebanon when Israeli forces fired on a UN watchtower. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that artillery fire struck an observation base in Naqoura, leading to injuries among peacekeepers who were fortunate to avoid serious harm. The UN condemned the repeated assaults on its positions, calling such actions a flagrant violation of international law.

In an ironic twist amidst the violence, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for retaliatory strikes against Israeli soldiers, asserting that they successfully targeted and destroyed a tank that was advancing toward their positions in Naqoura. This retaliatory fire coincides with Israeli ground operations against Hezbollah that have been underway since September 30.

The current conflict landscape in Lebanon is precarious, as skirmishes continue to escalate with both sides actively engaging their military forces. Tensions remain high, and calls for an urgent diplomatic conversation to mitigate further clashes, particularly concerning the safety of UN peacekeeping forces, are growing louder.

The situation continues to develop, leaving many in the region on edge as the specter of war looms ever larger in the horizon of Eastern Mediterranean conflicts.