Building reduced to rubble after strike that hit central Beirut

(18 Mar 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Bachoura, Beirut, Lebanon - 18 March 2026 1. Various of site of aftermath following Israeli strike, smoke rising from rubble, people on scene STORYLINE: Smoke rose from a building that was reduced to rubble, after a strike hit central Beirut on Wednesday morning. The Israeli army issued an evacuation notice for a building in the Bachoura neighborhood of central Beirut early Wednesday. AP journalists heard gunshots following the notice, a tactic typically used to wake residents and draw attention to evacuate. Earlier Wednesday, the army issued an evacuation notice for a building in the Akaybeh neighborhood of the Sidon district in southern Lebanon, followed by an intense airstrike. The Israeli army also told residents in the southern coastal city of Tyre to evacuate, prompting hundreds of families to flee late Tuesday. Earlier, two Israeli strikes on separate apartment buildings in central Beirut killed at least six people and wounded 24 others. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...