Israeli forces are intensifying their military campaign across Lebanon, with a recent missile strike on a Beirut apartment building captured in real-time by Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein. The strike followed a warning from the Israeli military, which advised residents of two nearby buildings to evacuate due to their proximity to "facilities associated with Hezbollah." This warning led to a swift evacuation of the area, and fortunately, no casualties were reported when the missile struck, reducing the building to rubble in seconds.

Before the primary strike, Israeli forces conducted two smaller "warning strikes" aimed at prompting residents to flee. The dramatic impact and subsequent destruction were documented in photos and videos shared on social media, showcasing the chaos as people fled amid clouds of debris and smoke. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are focusing their offensive on Hezbollah strongholds, expanding their targets to include financial institutions believed to support the militant group.

Witness to Destruction

Recent strikes have hit various locations in Beirut, including multiple bank branches, as part of efforts to disrupt Hezbollah's financial operations. The IDF has specifically accused the group of using civilian buildings to store cash and gold. One significant target has been Sahel General Hospital, which the IDF claimed harbored a Hezbollah cash bunker. However, the hospital's director denied this accusation and confirmed the evacuation of the facility as a precautionary measure. The ongoing conflict has caused widespread panic, forcing many residents to abandon their homes in search of safety.