Israeli Airstrikes Kill 22 in Central Beirut

Israeli airstrikes on central Beirut on Thursday resulted in significant casualties, with Lebanon's health ministry reporting at least 22 dead and numerous others injured. The attacks targeted residential buildings, including an eight-story structure, causing widespread destruction in neighborhoods such as Ras al-Nabaa and Burj Abi Haidar, and marking a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The Israeli army also confirmed the killing of an Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank, further intensifying hostilities. International condemnation has followed the strikes, particularly regarding Israeli fire on UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, which the President of the European Council condemned as 'unacceptable.' Amid calls for a ceasefire, the situation remains precarious, with humanitarian concerns escalating on both sides of the conflict. The ongoing violence is drawing attention from global leaders, reflecting a broader regional instability.