Arabic version: غارات جوية إسرائيلية تدمر جنوب بيروت، مما أسفر عن العديد من الأرواح

The southern suburbs of Beirut, particularly the neighborhood of Hay el Sellom, have been left in ruins following a devastating wave of Israeli air strikes on April 8. According to BBC News, the strikes, which lasted just 10 minutes, targeted around 100 locations across Lebanon, resulting in significant civilian casualties.

Residents had previously experienced relative calm despite ongoing Israeli attacks elsewhere in Beirut’s southern suburbs. However, on the afternoon of the strikes, many found themselves trapped as buildings collapsed. Mohammed, a local resident, lost his son Abbas when their apartment was hit. “The three floors above mine all fell into one room,” he recounted, emphasizing the tragedy of losing his child in such a violent manner.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported a staggering death toll of 361 for that day, with more than 1,000 individuals injured. Many victims were ordinary citizens, with at least 80 fatalities confirmed in Hay el Sellom alone, including 15 children. The destruction has left the area unrecognizable, with rubble and twisted metal littering the streets, complicating rescue efforts.

Witnesses described the moments before and after the strikes with harrowing detail. Ghassan Jawad, who was trapped under rubble, recalled the terrifying silence that followed the chaos. “I could hear people dying,” he said, reflecting on the loss of his family members during the attack.

Simultaneously, other neighborhoods across Beirut, such as Corniche al Mazraa, were also struck, resulting in additional casualties. Reports indicate that the strikes hit civilian areas without warning, raising questions about the justification for such attacks. As the situation continues to unfold, the impact of these strikes on the civilian population remains a focal point of concern in the ongoing conflict.