An Israeli airstrike destroyed a highrise building in central Beirut on Wednesday morning in a district near the Lebanese government headquarters. Images showed an explosion at the base of the tower block before the entire building collapses in a cloud of dust and debris. A building in central Beirut collapses as smoke rises following an Israeli strike on Wednesday. Hussein Malla/APIn the hours after the strike rescuers scrambled over a large pile of rubble and twisted metal where the building had stood, digging through the debris and extinguishing fires. Over 1 million people have been displaced since the most recent conflict began with many families sleeping outside or in makeshift accommodations on the streets of Beirut.

Source: Egypt Independent March 18, 2026 15:23 UTC