Israel launches widespread blow to Beirut, draws criticism from UN
發佈日期: 2026-04-09 21:15
TVB News
Israelis on Wednesday carried out a new wave of intensified strikes on Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, killing hundreds of people, just after a shaky ceasefire was reached between the US and Iran.
Israel has claimed that the ceasefire deal doesn't extend to its war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
At least 250 people were killed and many more were injured in Israel's widespread strikes on Beirut from the afternoon into the night. Bustling commercial and residential areas were hit without warning.
Black smoke towered several parts of the seaside capital where an orange flash lit up the skyline.
Rescuers used bulldozers to clean up the rubble across different parts of the city the next day in their search for survivors and bodies. This as local hospitals struggled to cope with rising number of injured and were reportedly forced to appeal for blood donation.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a video message on Wednesday, saying they launched "the biggest blow to Hezbollah since the pagers," attacking 100 targets in 10 minutes in locations the militant group "was sure were invulnerable."
In the affected Tallet el-Khayat neighbourhood in Beirut, resident Hassan Hijazi proclaimed Israel committed crimes "like it does every time" and said mostly innocent people were killed in the attacks.
Another strike targeted the Ain Mreissi neighbourhood and tore down a residential building there.
Like many others who stayed at the scene waiting for information, this displaced resident from the south of the country explained his friend's wife and in-laws were in the damaged building at the time of the blast, but those people's whereabouts are still unknown.
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned Israel's latest offensive in Lebanon as "nothing short of horrific."
Spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said: "Such carnage, hours after agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace which is so desperately needed by civilians. Mass casualties have been reported and hospitals overwhelmed."
The official prompted timely, independent investigations into all alleged violations to bring those responsible to justice, pointing out "Efforts to bring peace to the wider region will remain incomplete as long as the Lebanese people are living under continuing fire."
