A large-scale Israeli airstrike has demolished a residential building in central Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, leaving four people dead and over 20 injured, according to the country’s health ministry. The eight-story structure, located in the densely populated Basta district, was reportedly hit by five missiles, as confirmed by the National News Agency (NNA).

The attack occurred around 4:00 AM local time (2:00 AM GMT) on Saturday, causing powerful explosions that reverberated throughout the city. Emergency teams continue to work at the site, clearing rubble and searching for survivors amid rising smoke and debris, the health ministry reported.

This incident marks the fourth Israeli strike on central Beirut this week. Earlier, Iran-backed Hezbollah announced that its spokesperson, Mohammed Afif, was killed in an airstrike on Monday. Over recent months, Israeli operations have also targeted and killed senior Hezbollah figures in Beirut, including the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a major offensive against Hezbollah in September, combining airstrikes with ground troop deployments in southern Lebanon. Tensions escalated after Hezbollah launched repeated rocket attacks into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, following the group’s deadly assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s stated objective in this campaign is to enable the return of approximately 60,000 residents displaced from northern Israeli communities due to Hezbollah’s attacks.

In Lebanon, the conflict has resulted in over 3,500 fatalities and displaced more than one million people, according to Lebanese officials. Efforts to mediate a ceasefire have been ongoing, with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein recently visiting both Israel and Lebanon. While some progress has been reported, details remain undisclosed.