Source – Israel Accused of Using Phosphorus Bombs in Rare Central Beirut Strikes Near Parliament
At least nine people have been killed in overnight Israeli attacks on Beirut, which involved a series of rare airstrikes directly on the city center, not far from parliament building and the prime minister’s office, as well as a United Nations headquarters.
More strikes also rocked the southern suburb of Dayhiheh, which has been frequently hit.
The central Beirut attack targeted a building in the district of Bashoura. The Associated Press and others noticed that residents and emergency aid workers panicked also due to a strange smell filled the air in the central city area in the immediate aftermath of the bombing.
Al Jazeera reports that “Residents reported a sulfur-like smell following the attack, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency accused Israel of using phosphorus bombs, without providing evidence.” Israel’s military did not comment on the claims.
Among the dead were seven members of Hezbollah’s civil defense unit, the group confirmed.
A prior Wednesday strike had also targeted a residence of Hezbollah member of parliament, Amin Shari. Local reports say he was not there at the time, and survived.
In ongoing fierce fighting in the south, Hezbollah claims to have mounted more attacks against invading Israeli ground forces.
This comes following a bad day for the IDF on Wednesday, given it confirmed eight Israeli troop deaths, most of these during a fierce multi-pronged ambush.
