Israel pounds Lebanon, targets residential building in central Beirut

"Wednesday's strike in Beirut hit a multistorey building in the Aisha Bakkar area and appears to be another attempted assassination, reported Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr from Beirut. We understand many people who live in this building are now in hospital. We are getting reports there have been deaths and injuries in this strike."

"Khodr explained that the building is not a Hezbollah stronghold or in an area where the group has influence, but is located in a densely populated residential area. People here are in a state of shock, she said, the feeling is that there's nowhere safe, there's no front line."

"Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah have traded heavy fire during the ongoing conflict, but the suffering has been hugely disproportionate. At least 570 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel renewed widespread attacks on the country last Monday. Israel has so far had two soldiers killed in Lebanon."

Israel struck a multistorey residential building in Aisha Bakkar, central Beirut, appearing to be an attempted assassination with no prior warning. The attack killed at least one person in Zlaya, Bekaa Valley, with unconfirmed casualties from the Beirut strike. Since Israel renewed widespread attacks last Monday, at least 570 people have been killed in Lebanon, while Israel has suffered two soldier deaths and injuries from Hezbollah rockets. The building hit is located in a densely populated residential area, not a Hezbollah stronghold. The strike destroyed one or two floors, leaving residents in shock with the perception that no area is safe. The ongoing conflict has displaced nearly 700,000 people.

Read at www.aljazeera.com