Israeli airstrikes kill nine in Gaza despite ceasefire as Beirut clashes erupt

Armed clashes erupted in Beirut’s Aïsha Bakkar neighbourhood on Wednesday night after an attack on an Islamic centre, leaving at least one person dead and prompting the arrival of the Lebanese Army. Initial reports from GeoPWatch indicated gunfire broke out between young men affiliated with Mukhtar Tarek Issa and the Islamic Group (al-Jamaa al-Islamiya) . The violence followed an assault on the centre, which local media described as the trigger for the confrontation.

The Lebanese Army confirmed its deployment to the scene, according to Al Jadeed . Footage shared by GeoPWatch showed exchanges of gunfire in densely populated streets, raising concerns about further escalation in the area. No official statement on casualties beyond the initial fatality has been released, and the motives behind the attack on the Islamic centre remain unclear.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes on four residential apartments killed nine Palestinians early on Wednesday, according to medical sources cited by Yeni Safak . The strikes, which occurred despite a ceasefire in force since 10 October, left some victims arriving at Al-Shifa Hospital with severe burns or dismembered. A separate report from Yahoo News cited medics as saying 11 people had been killed .

In southern Lebanon, a UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed and two others injured in shelling, the UN peacekeeping mission said on Wednesday. The attack, which the mission described as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, has triggered an investigation, though the origin of the shelling remains undetermined .

The simultaneous violence in Beirut and Gaza underscores the fragile security landscape across the region. In Lebanon, the clash in Aïsha Bakkar reflects long-standing tensions between political factions, while in Gaza, the strikes violate the fragile ceasefire that has held since October. The UNIFIL incident adds a further layer of instability, with peacekeepers now caught in the crossfire. Analysts warn that unchecked escalation in either location could have regional repercussions, particularly as ceasefire monitors struggle to enforce compliance.

Lebanese authorities have yet to comment on the Beirut violence beyond the Army’s deployment, while Gaza’s health ministry has not issued a formal tally of Wednesday’s casualties. The lack of clarity on the Islamic centre attack and the shelling’s origin in southern Lebanon leaves critical questions unanswered as the day progresses.