Israel Strikes Beirut, Claims Targeting Iranian Commanders

At least four people were killed and 10 others were injured after Israeli air strikes hit an apartment in the Ramada Hotel building in central Beirut on Sunday morning, 8 March. Israel said the strike targeted commanders from the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) believed to be operating in the Lebanese capital. The attack marked the first time Beirut’s heart had been struck since clashes between Israel and Hezbollah escalated again last week. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 10 more people were wounded in the strike in the Raouche area of Beirut. The Israeli military stated that the target of the attack was senior commanders of the Quds Force, the elite unit under the IRGC, but did not disclose the identities of the commanders in question. ‘The commanders of the Lebanon-based Quds Force operate to advance terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians, while at the same time operating for the IRGC in Iran,’ the Israeli military said in a statement cited by The Straits Times on Sunday, 8 March.

The hotel where the strike occurred is known to house a number of residents who had fled fighting in southern Lebanon as well as the southern outskirts of Beirut. Following the attack, some refugees were seen leaving the building amid fears of further air strikes. Last week, Israel also claimed to have killed a commander of the Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon, Daoud Ali Zadeh, in an attack reportedly carried out in Tehran. Lebanon has been dragged deeper into a conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran since 2 February, after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory. In response, Israel launched large-scale air strikes targeting various locations in southern and eastern Lebanon, and areas around Beirut. Eight Israeli soldiers were wounded, including the son of Finance Minister Smotrich, in a rocket attack, with Israel retaliating by bombarding Beirut heavily. Israel intensified its air strikes in Lebanon on Friday, including a series of major strikes in the Baalbek district. Three UN peacekeeping personnel were wounded after their base in southern Lebanon was hit by an attack believed to have been carried out by Israel. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks since Monday have killed a total of 217 people in the country, most of them civilians. When combined with attacks on residential buildings, Israel adds to the misery and suffering of already exhausted civilians.