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Intelligence ReportBeirut, Beyrouth, Lebanon

Israel bombs central Beirut, killing 112, hours after Iran ceasefire

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Key Developments
  • ▸Israel struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley on April 8 — what the Israeli military called its largest coordinated strike of the current war — killing at least 112 people and wounding over 837, according to Lebanese authorities cited by Al Jazeera.
  • ▸The airstrikes hit at least five central and coastal Beirut neighbourhoods without prior warning during afternoon rush hour, including the dense commercial Corniche al Mazraa district, hours after the US and Iran announced a Pakistani-mediated two-week ceasefire, according to the Associated Press and Lebanon's National News Agency.
  • ▸Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated explicitly that the two-week ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon,' and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the strikes the largest blow to Hezbollah since the September 2024 pager-bomb operation — while IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military would continue to 'utilize every operational opportunity' to strike Hezbollah, per AP and PBS NewsHour.
  • ▸Mediator Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Iran-US ceasefire applied 'everywhere including Lebanon,' directly contradicting Israel's position; Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised what he called 'ceasefire violations' by Israel in a call with Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the Iranian foreign ministry and The New Arab.
  • ▸Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs Haneed Sayed told the AP the strikes represented 'a very dangerous turning point,' noting that half of Lebanon's internally displaced persons had sheltered in central Beirut — the very areas now being bombed — and said Beirut was ready to negotiate but Israel had not responded.

Israel bombs central Beirut, killing 112, hours after Iran ceasefire

Confidence: HIGH (91/100)  |  April 08, 2026  |  Beirut, Beyrouth, Lebanon

Israel bombs central Beirut, killing 112, hours after Iran ceasefire aljazeera.com

In one sentence: Israel launched its largest coordinated assault on Lebanon, killing at least 112 people in Beirut and beyond, hours after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced that Netanyahu said did not apply to Lebanon.

Why it matters: Israel's explicit carve-out of Lebanon from the Iran ceasefire — disputed by mediator Pakistan — signals the war is widening rather than contracting, directly threatening the more than 1.2 million Lebanese already displaced. Striking central Beirut's commercial districts without warning, for the first time at this scale, erases the de facto boundary that had kept the capital's core relatively untouched, destabilising Lebanon's fragile government and creating a new humanitarian emergency inside the capital itself.

What Happened Today

  • Israel struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley on April 8 — what the Israeli military called its largest coordinated strike of the current war — killing at least 112 people and wounding over 837, according to Lebanese authorities cited by Al Jazeera.
  • The airstrikes hit at least five central and coastal Beirut neighbourhoods without prior warning during afternoon rush hour, including the dense commercial Corniche al Mazraa district, hours after the US and Iran announced a Pakistani-mediated two-week ceasefire, according to the Associated Press and Lebanon's National News Agency.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated explicitly that the two-week ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon,' and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the strikes the largest blow to Hezbollah since the September 2024 pager-bomb operation — while IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military would continue to 'utilize every operational opportunity' to strike Hezbollah, per AP and PBS NewsHour.
  • Mediator Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Iran-US ceasefire applied 'everywhere including Lebanon,' directly contradicting Israel's position; Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised what he called 'ceasefire violations' by Israel in a call with Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the Iranian foreign ministry and The New Arab.
  • Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs Haneed Sayed told the AP the strikes represented 'a very dangerous turning point,' noting that half of Lebanon's internally displaced persons had sheltered in central Beirut — the very areas now being bombed — and said Beirut was ready to negotiate but Israel had not responded.

Contested Claims

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; US President Donald Trump via PBS NewsHour: The US-Iran two-week ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon or Israel's campaign against Hezbollah. Netanyahu stated this explicitly after the truce was announced, and US President Trump told PBS that Lebanon was excluded 'because of Hezbollah,' calling it 'a separate skirmish.' Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi via Iranian foreign ministry statement: The ceasefire applies 'everywhere including Lebanon.' Iran's foreign minister separately accused Israel of violating the truce by attacking Lebanon.
  • Israeli Defense Forces statement: Israel's military said it targeted missile launchers, command centres and intelligence infrastructure, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields. Mohammed Balouza, Beirut municipal council member, via Associated Press: Residents and local officials, including Beirut municipal council member Mohammed Balouza at the Corniche al Mazraa strike site, denied the buildings hit were military sites, calling them residential and commercial areas.

Unverified / Single Source

  • (Unverified — single source; anonymous source; state-adjacent media) Iran warned it could resume hostilities if Israel continues to violate the truce by attacking Lebanon. [Iranian Tasnim news agency, citing a 'knowledgeable source']
  • (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated; no Israeli military confirmation) Hezbollah fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship 126 km off the Lebanese coast. [Hezbollah statement, reported by Al Jazeera]
  • (Unverified — single source; not independently corroborated) One of the Beirut strikes targeted a building close to the official residence of House Speaker Nabih Berri. [UPI]

Key Figures

MetricValueSource
People killed across Lebanon in April 8 Israeli strikesAt least 112Lebanese authorities, via Al Jazeera liveblog, April 8 2026
People wounded across Lebanon in April 8 Israeli strikesOver 837Lebanese authorities, via Al Jazeera liveblog, April 8 2026
Hezbollah targets struck within 10 minutes in April 8 operationMore than 100Israeli Defense Forces statement, confirmed by AP, PBS, UPI
Total killed in Lebanon since Israeli campaign began March 2, 2026More than 1,530, including 130+ childrenLebanon Ministry of Public Health, cited by AP/PBS/Al Jazeera
People displaced in Lebanon since March 2, 2026More than 1.2 million (approx. 22% of population)UN data and Lebanese authorities, cited by Al Jazeera and UPI
Total Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since March 2, 2026More than 1,840Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), cited by Al Jazeera

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Israel bombing Lebanon if a ceasefire was announced with Iran? Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the two-week US-Iran ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon.' Israel views its war against Hezbollah as a separate conflict. Mediator Pakistan disputes this, saying the truce covers all fronts. The US sided with Israel, with Trump calling the Lebanon fighting 'a separate skirmish.'

How many people have been killed and displaced in Lebanon since Israel's campaign began? Since March 2, 2026, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon — including over 130 children — and wounded more than 4,400. More than 1.2 million people, roughly one in five Lebanese, have been displaced, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health and UN data.

What is Hezbollah's position on a ceasefire in Lebanon? A Hezbollah official told the AP before the April 8 strikes that the group was allowing time for mediators to secure a ceasefire but had not committed to one. The official said Hezbollah 'will not accept' a return to the pre-March 2 status quo of near-daily Israeli strikes under a nominal ceasefire. The group refused to disarm.

Background

Israel launched its current full-scale war on Lebanon on March 2, 2026, after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Iran following a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei on February 28. Israel responded with mass bombardment and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, escalating a pattern of near-daily strikes that had already continued since the November 2024 ceasefire ending the previous Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group that operates independently of the Lebanese state, has resisted disarmament demands from both Israel and Lebanon's own government.

Sources

Israel bombs central Beirut, killing 112, hours after Iran ceasefire
Image via aljazeera.com
Source Verification
✓ Verified Facts
  • ✓Israel struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley on April 8 — what the Israeli military called its largest coordinated strike of the current war — killing at least 112 people and wounding over 837, according to Lebanese authorities cited by Al Jazeera.
  • ✓The airstrikes hit at least five central and coastal Beirut neighbourhoods without prior warning during afternoon rush hour, including the dense commercial Corniche al Mazraa district, hours after the US and Iran announced a Pakistani-mediated two-week ceasefire, according to the Associated Press and Lebanon's National News Agency.
  • ✓Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated explicitly that the two-week ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon,' and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the strikes the largest blow to Hezbollah since the September 2024 pager-bomb operation — while IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military would continue to 'utilize every operational opportunity' to strike Hezbollah, per AP and PBS NewsHour.
  • ✓Mediator Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Iran-US ceasefire applied 'everywhere including Lebanon,' directly contradicting Israel's position; Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised what he called 'ceasefire violations' by Israel in a call with Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the Iranian foreign ministry and The New Arab.
  • ✓Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs Haneed Sayed told the AP the strikes represented 'a very dangerous turning point,' noting that half of Lebanon's internally displaced persons had sheltered in central Beirut — the very areas now being bombed — and said Beirut was ready to negotiate but Israel had not responded.
⚠ Disputed Claims
  • ⚠
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; US President Donald Trump via PBS NewsHour
    The US-Iran two-week ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon or Israel's campaign against Hezbollah. Netanyahu stated this explicitly after the truce was announced, and US President Trump told PBS that Lebanon was excluded 'because of Hezbollah,' calling it 'a separate skirmish.'
    vs
    Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi via Iranian foreign ministry statement
    The ceasefire applies 'everywhere including Lebanon.' Iran's foreign minister separately accused Israel of violating the truce by attacking Lebanon.
  • ⚠
    Israeli Defense Forces statement
    Israel's military said it targeted missile launchers, command centres and intelligence infrastructure, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields.
    vs
    Mohammed Balouza, Beirut municipal council member, via Associated Press
    Residents and local officials, including Beirut municipal council member Mohammed Balouza at the Corniche al Mazraa strike site, denied the buildings hit were military sites, calling them residential and commercial areas.
○ Unconfirmed
  • ○
    Iran warned it could resume hostilities if Israel continues to violate the truce by attacking Lebanon.(Iranian Tasnim news agency, citing a 'knowledgeable source')
  • ○
    Hezbollah fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship 126 km off the Lebanese coast.(Hezbollah statement, reported by Al Jazeera)
  • ○
    One of the Beirut strikes targeted a building close to the official residence of House Speaker Nabih Berri.(UPI)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Israel bombing Lebanon if a ceasefire was announced with Iran?
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the two-week US-Iran ceasefire 'does not include Lebanon.' Israel views its war against Hezbollah as a separate conflict. Mediator Pakistan disputes this, saying the truce covers all fronts. The US sided with Israel, with Trump calling the Lebanon fighting 'a separate skirmish.'
How many people have been killed and displaced in Lebanon since Israel's campaign began?
Since March 2, 2026, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon — including over 130 children — and wounded more than 4,400. More than 1.2 million people, roughly one in five Lebanese, have been displaced, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health and UN data.
What is Hezbollah's position on a ceasefire in Lebanon?
A Hezbollah official told the AP before the April 8 strikes that the group was allowing time for mediators to secure a ceasefire but had not committed to one. The official said Hezbollah 'will not accept' a return to the pre-March 2 status quo of near-daily Israeli strikes under a nominal ceasefire. The group refused to disarm.