The death toll from an Israeli airstrike in the al-Basta area of central Beirut has risen to 16, with over 70 people injured, according to local sources.

The strike, which targeted a densely populated neighborhood, caused widespread destruction and panic, with explosions heard across the city.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health has confirmed 11 fatalities and 63 wounded, although the toll is expected to rise as DNA tests are conducted to identify victims. Many body parts remain unidentified, complicating the final count.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with excavators working to clear the rubble of an 8-story residential building that was leveled in the attack. Civil defense teams and fire trucks remain on the scene to assist in the recovery effort.

Eyewitnesses and local officials reported that the strike, carried out without prior warning, involved bunker-buster munitions. The explosions from the airstrike were so powerful that they were heard as far away as Mount Lebanon and Saida, shaking buildings and terrifying residents throughout Beirut.

Shortly after the al-Basta attack, additional airstrikes targeted Beirut’s Southern Suburb following evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military. Drones continue to hover over the Lebanese capital, adding to fears of further escalation.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with many decrying the targeting of civilian infrastructure in a densely populated area. The airstrike comes amid heightened tensions in the region, leaving residents in Beirut grappling with fear and uncertainty.

As rescue teams work tirelessly to save lives and recover victims, the Lebanese government has called for international intervention to hold Israel accountable for what it described as a “deliberate massacre” of innocent civilians. (ILKHA)