The moment an Israeli airstrike hit a central Beirut building on Wednesday, 18 March, was captured on eyewitness video. A cloud of grey smoke rose as the building, in the Bachoura neighbourhood, collapsed to the ground. Israel's military issued a statement urging the evacuation of a building in the neighbourhood ahead of the attack. Israeli airstrikes in the city killed at least six people this morning, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel intensified its offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Airstrikes pounded the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, where Reuters footage showed explosions lighting up the night sky.

Alcuni attacchi senza preavviso, cresce la tensione in città

There are no known casualties so far from the strike near downtown, as Israel said it targeted a building affiliated with Hezbollah.