At least 10 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes in the central part of Lebanon, the Ministry of Health announced, pending a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
Israeli forces began shelling central Beirut shortly after 5:30 p.m., following an evacuation order issued by the Israeli military for locations in the heart of the Lebanese capital, the first warnings in that area.
Those evacuation warnings caused panic in busy areas of the city, with drivers honking their horns to get away as quickly as possible, according to witnesses.
A midday airstrike in the densely populated Nueri district killed seven people and injured 37 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The same district was subsequently hit twice more and a neighboring area, Barbour, was targeted by shelling that left three dead and ten wounded, according to the ministry.
At the same time, the southern districts of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, became the targets of heavy bombardment, following Israeli warnings to evacuate.
Raids were also carried out in southern and eastern Lebanon.
These Israeli strikes came as the Israeli security cabinet met to decide on a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
At 20:00 this evening Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a speech, with many expecting the approval of a ceasefire agreement.
RES/EMP
