Israeli Airstrike Targets Beirut Neighborhood Adjacent to Bourj Hammoud, Armenian Community Unharmed

INTERVEW:An Israeli strike early Friday hit areas of Beirut, including a neighborhood located next to the Armenian-populated district of Bourj Hammoud. 

The Armenian Report verified the situation with Aram Somounjian, media representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) in Lebanon, who confirmed that a strike took place in the Nabaa area early in the morning.

“In reality, Israel carried out an early morning strike today on one of the buildings in the Nabaa area, located on the northern outskirts of Beirut, which caused a fire in the building. The Nabaa area is located in the immediate vicinity of the Armenian-populated Bourj Hammoud district. There are no casualties or injuries among the Lebanese Armenian community. According to preliminary information, there is one fatality from the strike on the building in Nabaa, and it is very likely that the victim is a member of Hezbollah. In reality, the Nabaa area is right next to Burj Hammoud, just one neighborhood apart. One side of the street is Burj Hammoud and the other side is Nabaa.”

Earlier, reports circulating on social media said that an Israeli strike hit a car in the Jnah neighborhood, a coastal area in southwestern Beirut. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, one person was killed in that attack, the Associated Press reported.

In a separate incident, another Israeli strike hit an apartment building in the Nabaa neighborhood, leaving it engulfed in flames, according to local media reports. Nabaa lies on the northern outskirts of Beirut within the densely populated Bourj Hammoud district, which is home to a sizable Armenian community.

Initial reports said no casualties were immediately confirmed in that strike. However, preliminary information later indicated that one person was killed in the building that was targeted.

According to the Israeli military, the strike in Beirut targeted a member of Hezbollah. Both Jnah and Nabaa are located far from Beirut’s southern suburbs, which the Israeli army has previously declared unsafe and where evacuation notices have been issued.

This appears to be the first time that such an area has been struck during the current phase of the conflict or during the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The strike caused concern among residents living near Armenian-populated neighborhoods. However, community representatives say there is no widespread panic.

When asked about the situation among Lebanese Armenians and whether the recent developments have caused fear, Somounjian told us, “Naturally, the community is concerned, but there is no panic. In general, the strikes are far from Armenian neighborhoods except for this morning’s strike. There is uncertainty and concern. Last week, 16 Lebanese Armenian schools were closed, but this week 12 of them have already reopened and are operating normally.”

Despite the proximity of the strike to Bourj Hammoud, there have been no reported casualties or injuries among members of the Lebanese Armenian community, and many community institutions have resumed normal activity.

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