4 killed, 10 injured in Israeli drone strike on hotel building in Beirut

(Image: AFP)

The war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Sunday with fresh strikes, drone attacks and widening fallout. At least four people were killed and 10 were injured after an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

It was the first strike to hit the heart of the capital since hostilities between Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah resumed last week.

The hotel had been sheltering displaced people who fled the fighting in southern Lebanon and Beirut Southern Suburbs, with some residents seen leaving the building amid fears of further airstrikes, according to a report by News18.

Over the past 24 hours, missile and drone attacks have been reported across several countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait.

Israel has also intensified its campaign inside Iran, striking fuel storage facilities in Tehran and conducting new operation in Lebanon, while Iran and its allied groups continue attacks on US assets and regional allies.

Lebanon was drawn into the widening United States–Israel conflict with Iran on Monday after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In retaliation, Israel carried out heavy strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as areas near Beirut.