Israeli Airstrikes Target Beirut Hospital, Escalating Conflict

The tension between Israel and Lebanon has escalated dramatically following Israeli airstrikes near one of Beirut's main hospitals. The strikes, which took place late Monday, destroyed several buildings and caused significant damage to Rafik Hariri University Hospital. The Health Ministry reported that more than a dozen people were killed and another 57 wounded, many of whom were in critical condition. The Israeli military has claimed that the targets were linked to Hezbollah, but they denied specifically targeting the hospital. Meanwhile, Hezbollah responded with a barrage of rockets into central Israel, just hours before U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region. Blinken's mission is to push for a cease-fire and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The conflict has been ongoing for months and has resulted in thousands of casualties and the displacement of a significant portion of the population. The situation remains fragile as both sides continue to exchange fire, with no signs of a peaceful resolution in sight. The conflict has also seen the involvement of international actors. Amnesty International recently criticized Israel's strikes on Hezbollah-linked financial institutions, suggesting they may violate international humanitarian law. The organization emphasized that financial institutions are typically considered civilian infrastructure unless they are being used for military purposes. In another development, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence was hit and lightly damaged by a drone attack over the weekend. Although there were no casualties, the incident highlights the escalating tensions and the potential for further violence.