4 killed in Israeli airstrike near hospital in southern Beirut

By Anadolu staff

BEIRUT (AA) - At least four people were killed and 24 wounded in an Israeli airstrike late Monday near a hospital in Lebanon’s capital.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said the airstrike targeted the vicinity of Rafik Hariri University Hospital located on the outskirts of southern Beirut, with a child among the dead.

The ministry noted that the strike caused considerable damage to the hospital.

Lebanon’s state-owned National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli warplanes bombed the area near the hospital without warning.

An Anadolu correspondent reported that the warplanes conducted new strikes on the Haret Hreik area in southern Beirut shortly after issuing evacuation orders to residents.

The correspondent added that Israeli fighter jets also struck the Al-Awza'i area on the outskirts of Beirut for the first time shortly after the Israeli army issued a warning.

According to a statement by Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari, Israeli warplanes will continue strikes on Beirut targeting Hezbollah economic assets.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since Sept. 23 against what it says are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed and more than 11,500 others injured in Israeli attacks since last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 this year by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar