At least 12 people were killed and 41 others injured early Wednesday when Israeli aircraft carried out an airstrike without prior warning in central Beirut, according to Lebanese authorities. The attack targeted a residential building in the densely populated Zukak al-Blat area, near government offices and several foreign embassies. The Israeli military also issued new threats of further strikes in another part of the city, heightening public fear.

The incident comes as Lebanon becomes increasingly entangled in the Iran–Israel conflict that intensified after March 2, when Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, launched rocket attacks on Israel following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Israel expanded its military operations across Lebanon, conducting both air and ground assaults, particularly in the south.

Israeli forces have repeatedly struck Beirut’s central districts in recent weeks, often without prior warning, as the conflict continues to widen across the region.