An Israeli strike hit a luxury hotel in central Beirut, killing Iranian operatives, according to Israel. The attack marks the first strike in the city centre during the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Israeli Strike Reaches Central Beirut
An overnight Israeli strike hit a luxury hotel in central Beirut, marking the first time the current conflict has reached the city centre. The explosion struck the Ramada Plaza hotel in the coastal Raouche district at around 01:30 local time.
Residents said a loud blast shook nearby buildings and forced people to rush to balconies and windows to see what had happened. The area was still busy with late-night crowds observing Ramadan when the strike occurred. People on nearby streets quickly took cover.
Targeting Iranian Operatives
The Israel Defense Forces said the attack targeted a meeting of Iranian operatives inside the hotel. According to Israel, five men killed in the strike worked for the Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Israeli military claimed those killed included intelligence officers and a senior figure responsible for transferring funds to Hezbollah.
Iran strongly rejected the claim. Its mission to the United Nations accused Israel of carrying out what it called the assassination of four Iranian diplomats.
Casualties and Damage
Lebanon’s health ministry initially reported four people killed and ten injured in the strike. The blast damaged cars and shattered windows across the surrounding area. The drone strike targeted the fourth floor of the hotel, leaving visible structural damage but affecting only a limited section of the building.
Witnesses described a powerful shockwave that shook nearby homes and businesses. Some injured people were bystanders who happened to be in the area at the time.
Residents React to Growing Fear
Local residents said the strike brought the war dangerously close to everyday life. One Beirut resident said the explosion woke him from sleep and rattled windows across the neighborhood.
Another worker in a nearby car park said the blast shook the entire area. He rushed to check on his children who were sleeping nearby in temporary shelter.
The attack adds to a growing number of Israeli strikes across Lebanon since fighting resumed between Israel and Hezbollah. The United Nations estimates nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced since the latest escalation began.
Many residents now fear the conflict could spread further into Beirut’s central districts.
