A dawn of terror unfolded in Beirut’s Basta neighborhood on Saturday as Israeli airstrikes turned an eight-story residential building into a pile of rubble.
The targeted structure on Al-Ma’moun Street, struck by four bunker buster missiles, left a massive crater and sparked frantic rescue efforts amid widespread destruction.
By noon, 16 bodies had been recovered, with more feared trapped beneath the debris, news reports said, adding that over 70 injured civilians overwhelmed local hospitals, which issued urgent pleas for blood donations.
Residents, many asleep at the time, were given no warning to evacuate. Among the dead was a displaced family of 10 who had sought refuge in Basta, believing it to be safer than their war-ravaged southern hometown.
Survivors shared stories of narrow escapes, describing the terror of collapsing walls and deafening explosions. The Basta attack is one of many in an escalating Israeli offensive. Beirut’s southern suburbs and towns across southern Lebanon have faced relentless bombardment.
Lebanon’s economy has incurred $20 billion in losses due to the ongoing war, Lebanese Economy Minister Amin Salam announced on Tuesday, citing widespread infrastructure damage and the loss of over 500,000 jobs.
Amid the ongoing war on Lebanon and Gaza, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The conflict has caused immense suffering. Nationwide, news reports indicate the death toll has reached 3,700, with more than 15,500 injured. The number of child fatalities exceeds 240, alongside over 700 women killed. Thousands remain displaced as relentless strikes devastate homes, neighborhoods, and lives, with no end to the violence in sight.
