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Israeli Strike in Beirut Kills 9

Debris is scattered at the site of an Israeli strike on central Beirut's Bashoura neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
Debris is scattered at the site of an Israeli strike on central Beirut's Bashoura neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
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Israeli Strike in Beirut Kills 9

Debris is scattered at the site of an Israeli strike on central Beirut's Bashoura neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi
Debris is scattered at the site of an Israeli strike on central Beirut's Bashoura neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Emilie Madi

Lebanon’s Health Ministry Thursday said that at least nine people were killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut, as it is also running DNA tests on remains they have obtained to identify others.

Hezbollah said that seven paramedics and rescue workers from its medical arm the Islamic Health Committee were killed in the strike that hit its office in Bashoura. The Health Ministry said 14 others were wounded in the strike early Thursday.

Israel said it conducted a precise airstrike on Beirut. There was no warning issued ahead of the strike.

Residents reported a sulfur-like smell following the attack, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency accused Israel of using internationally banned phosphorous bombs. Human rights groups have in the past accused Israel of using white phosphorus incendiary shells on towns and villages in conflict-hit southern Lebanon.

Three missiles also hit the southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud blasts were heard, Lebanese security officials said. The southern suburbs came under more than a dozen Israeli strikes on Wednesday.

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Iraq Initiates Contacts with Western Countries to Prevent Potential Israeli Strike

Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
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Iraq Initiates Contacts with Western Countries to Prevent Potential Israeli Strike

Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)
Sudani chairs a military meeting in Baghdad. (Government media)

The Iraqi government is making significant efforts to shield the country from the effects of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Sources revealed that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has activated three internal and external strategies to prevent a potential Israeli strike on Iraq.
Concerns have grown since Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, some of which crossed through Iraqi airspace. Pro-Iran factions have also intensified their attacks on Israeli and US targets.
A senior official from Sudani’s office told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iraqi government is "moving swiftly on three simultaneous fronts to avoid the repercussions of the war and keep the country away from its dangerous consequences."
These efforts involve diplomatic engagements with Iraq’s Western allies, especially the US and the UK, to convince them that Iraq is neutral in the conflict. The aim is to encourage them to pressure Israel to refrain from attacking Iraq. Additionally, Al-Sudani has assigned three influential figures, including a political-religious leader, to hold urgent talks with certain factions, urging them to remain neutral due to the increasing risks.
While the government is working with political leaders and some faction heads, analysts remain skeptical about its ability to influence more radical groups to stop their escalations against Israel. However, they note that these factions often target Israeli interests from outside Iraq.
Many fear that these groups may also resume attacks on US bases in the country, particularly following a recent attack on Victoria Base near Baghdad Airport, where US forces are believed to be stationed.
Iraq’s Islamic Resistance announced on Wednesday that it had struck "vital areas" in Israel, signaling that the factions remain committed to escalating the conflict.
On the eve of Iran's missile strike on Israel, Sudani visited the Joint Operations Command headquarters in Baghdad, where he met with senior security officials to review the country's security situation and the military’s readiness to address any potential threats. He instructed security forces to enhance their preparedness and capabilities.
However, security experts doubt Iraq’s ability to defend against a possible Israeli airstrike, given the country's weak ground-based defense systems.
In response to Iran's attack, Iraq's Resistance Coordinating Committee threatened to target US bases and interests if the US or Israel conducts any hostile actions, stating that all American bases in Iraq and the region would be considered targets.