Israeli strikes rained down on residential areas and estates in central Beirut today without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced between the US and Iran.
Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its conflict with the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon, however.
Today, the IDF launched more than 100 strikes on Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley.
At least 254 people have been killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon today, according to civil defence authorities.
The highest death toll was in the capital Beirut, where Israeli strikes killed 91 people. These tolls are expected to rise.
Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital, and booms interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a blue-sky afternoon, as ambulances raced toward open flames.
At least one apartment building was struck as emergency responders searched charred vehicles. There was no sign of Hezbollah launching strikes against Israel in the first couple of hours after the attacks.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighbourhoods in Beirut’s central and coastal areas.
Lebanon’s minister of social affairs, Haneed Sayed, said the strikes were in the ‘heart of Beirut’ where half of the internally displaced people had been.
She said Lebanon’s government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the president previously made.
Israel has not responded.
Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the US and Israel attacked Iran, resparking a lengthy regional conflict.
Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion, and claims to have killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.
Israel has killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children, in the attacks. More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon.
Hellbound and Down 