Lebanon's health ministry says 11 killed in Israeli attacks on Beirut on Thursday

Two people were reportedly killed and nine wounded in the airstrike.

 Dark clouds blanket the sky over Beirut suburbs during heavy rainfall, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon October 1, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)
Dark clouds blanket the sky over Beirut suburbs during heavy rainfall, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon October 1, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/AMR ABDALLAH DALSH)

An Israeli strike hit a central neighborhood in the Lebanese capital on Thursday evening, an area that had not been previously hit, a Lebanese security source told Reuters.

A thick plume of smoke could be seen rising from central Beirut after missiles were heard flying over the city, Reuters witnesses said.

Sharing footage of the strike, Kan shared reports that two were killed and nine wounded in the strike.

At least 11 people were killed and 48 injured in a preliminary toll of Israeli attacks on Beirut on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry said in a statement.

Hezbollah Defense Minister Wafik Spa was reportedly killed in this strike, Maariv reported, citing Arab reports. It was also noted that he is the brother-in-law of the killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and served as his negotiator.

Hezbollah's attacks on Israel

Hezbollah began firing missiles at Israel on October 8, a day after Hamas's large-scale assault on southern Israel. The Gaza-based terror group murdered over 1200 people and abducted some 250 people.

 A view shows smoke and flames, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, near Nahariya, Israel, October 3, 2024.  (credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
A view shows smoke and flames, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, near Nahariya, Israel, October 3, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

The constant Hezbollah fire from Hezbollah led to northern communities evacuating from the border.

Israel later updated its war goals to ensure the safe return of northern residents, which led to Israel launching a small ground operation into Lebanon.