Beirut under fire: Over 100 sites targeted across Beirut, South, and Bekaa

Lebanon witnessed an unprecedented escalation today, as Israeli aircraft carried out a series of simultaneous and violent airstrikes, targeting over 100 locations within roughly 10 minutes, marking one of the broadest assaults since the confrontations began.

The airstrikes extended deep into the capital, Beirut, and its surroundings, as well as Sidon, Tyre, areas in Mount Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Strikes were reported in Barbour, Corniche Mazra'a, Ain El Mreisseh, and Burj Abi Haidar, alongside Choueifat, Aramoun, Bchamoun, Hay El Sellom, Qemmatieh, and Sidon, as well as Ansar, Joya, and Hermel.

Beirut

In Beirut, the scene was heavy and chaotic, with plumes of smoke rising from several neighborhoods, including Corniche Mazra'a, Ain El Mreisseh, Msaytbeh, and Al-Basta, after simultaneous airstrikes shook the capital within minutes. Panic and shock pervaded the streets as civil defense and Red Cross vehicles moved extensively to rescue and transport casualties amid heavy congestion and efforts to clear paths for ambulance crews. Circulating video clips show the extent of the destruction and the thick smoke that covered large parts of the city and its southern suburbs.

Ministry of Health

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health announced hundreds of martyrs and injuries across various Lebanese regions due to the airstrikes, urging citizens to make way for ambulances to reach the targeted sites quickly. Official agencies also confirmed that hospitals have been placed on maximum readiness in response to the immense pressure on the healthcare sector, with ongoing evacuation and transfer of the injured amid the unprecedented escalation.

Internal Security Forces

In this context, the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces announced that, due to the Israeli aggressions targeting Beirut and several Lebanese areas simultaneously, citizens are requested to refrain from moving except in cases of utmost necessity, especially around the targeted sites and on roads leading to hospitals. This is to allow ambulances to carry out their duties without obstacles or delays, ensuring a swift response to rescue and evacuation operations.

Attacks on Bekaa

In the Bekaa, the bombardments targeted Douris, Karak, and the surroundings of Taraya and Shmustar, while in the south, they struck areas including Aanqoun, Adloun, and the vicinity of Sidon, including the Al Zahra Complex.

Fire belts

Field sources reported the use of "fire belts" in several areas, with successive explosions shaking Beirut and its southern suburb, amid rising plumes of smoke in multiple locations.

من عين المريسة pic.twitter.com/VXpjooAmxf
— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) April 8, 2026

Conversely, the Israeli army, through its spokesperson Avichay Adraee, announced the execution of the "largest strike" across Lebanon since the start of the "Roaring Lion" operation, stating that approximately 100 Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure and military sites were targeted concurrently and rapidly.

He explained that the strikes targeted command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, land and naval missile launch systems, as well as sites linked to the "Radwan Force" and the air unit (127), confirming that the operation was based on precise intelligence and had been planned over several weeks.

He also noted that "many targets are located within civilian areas," describing this as a result of "Hezbollah's use of civilians as human shields."

Panic and chaos prevailed in the capital and several other areas, with urgent calls for blood donations and for keeping roads clear for ambulances and civil defense, while the total human and material tolls remain, as yet, unclear.

Targeted areas

The Israeli airstrikes covered a wide geographic area, including Beirut and its southern suburb, where they struck Bir Hassan – Al-Rihab, Hay El Sellom, Al-Manara, Ain El Mreisseh, Corniche Mazra'a, Msaytbeh, Al-Basta, Choueifat, Aramoun (Al-Bayadir), Kaifun, Ain El-Tineh, and Bchamoun – Al-Madaris.

They also extended to southern Lebanon, targeting Bent Jbeil, Kfarsir, Kafur, Harouf, Jbaa, Ain Qana, Zibdin, Sharqiya, Al-Duwair, Kfarjoz, Kafr Roummane, Jibchit, Habboush, Al-Qussaibah, Sir el Gharbiyeh, Haret Saida, Sarafand, Deir Al-Zahrani, Tyre, Khirbet Selm, Arab Salim, Ansar, Zefta, Sidon, Houmine Al-Tahta, Joya, Baysariyeh, and Deir Qanoun En Nahr.

In the Bekaa and Baalbek, the bombardments hit Douris, Shmustar, Hermel, Karak, and the Taraya Plain, marking a simultaneous escalation targeting several civilian areas.