An Israeli airstrike struck Ramlet al-Bayda beach in central Beirut early Thursday, killing seven people and wounding 21 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The ministry described the dead and injured as initial casualties from the attack on the coastal area, a spot where displaced residents had gathered after evacuating neighborhoods hit by previous Israeli bombardments.

The strike occurred hours after other attacks across Lebanon. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that the beach hit came amid a wave of Israeli operations that have intensified since early March. Ramlet al-Bayda, a public seafront popular with families, had become a makeshift shelter for those forced from their homes in areas like Beirut's southern suburbs and beyond.

Some reports updated the death toll to eight, citing later Health Ministry figures. Al Jazeera footage from the scene showed damage near tents set up by displaced people, with at least six confirmed dead in initial accounts.

This incident marks one of the first strikes directly on central Beirut's waterfront, expanding the scope of Israeli operations beyond Hezbollah strongholds in the south and east. On Wednesday, March 11, Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon killed at least 15 people and wounded 42, targeting sites in southern districts like al-Shahabiya and Nabatieh, as well as the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's Aisha Bakkar area. Other tallies reported up to 36 dead that day in multiple locations, including Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts.

The broader conflict escalated around March 2, when Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks, prompting Israel's response. Strikes have since killed more than 600 people in Lebanon, including civilians and militants. Israel has not issued a specific statement on the Ramlet al-Bayda strike, though its military has previously cited targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and commanders linked to Iran.

On the same day, Iran launched multiple ballistic missile salvos at Israel, with the IDF responding to ongoing threats from Tehran-backed groups. Lebanon's government has condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty, while evacuation orders continue in affected areas.

Rescue efforts at the beach focused on the wounded, many of whom were rushed to nearby hospitals. The incident underscores the growing civilian toll as fighting spills into urban centers.