Israeli airstrikes have extended deep into Beirut's upscale shorefront neighborhoods, shattering the relative safety of areas once spared from the front lines of the war with Hezbollah. In Raouche, a bustling coastal district known for its luxury hotels and restaurants, a drone strike on March 8 hit the fourth floor of the four-star Ramada Plaza hotel, killing five Iranian Quds Force operatives accused by Israel of funneling funds to Hezbollah. The Israeli military identified the dead as including Majid Hassani, a senior figure in financial transfers, and intelligence commanders Alireza Bi-Azar and Ahmad Ahmadlou.

The attack marked the first strike on central Beirut in this conflict, which erupted in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel in response to U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran. No evacuation warning preceded the Raouche hit, and shrapnel injured bystanders, including displaced families sheltering nearby. Raouche, with its iconic Pigeon Rocks and high-end establishments, had become a refuge for those fleeing the southern suburbs.

Further along the seafront in Ramlet al-Baida, strikes intensified in mid-March. On March 12, a double-tap airstrike targeted tents where displaced families slept, killing eight people and wounding 31 others, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Witnesses described jets roaring overhead before two impacts, leaving the area, previously a spot for joggers and beachgoers, strewn with debris. Another strike hit cars along the corniche there, splattering sidewalks with blood and killing at least eight more.

These neighborhoods, home to luxury apartments, car dealerships, and swanky eateries, now host stark contrasts. Thousands of families displaced from Hezbollah strongholds like Dahiya have pitched tents along the Mediterranean promenade, sharing space with cyclists and dog walkers. Over one million Lebanese have been uprooted since the war began three weeks ago, with more than 1,000 killed and 2,700 injured nationwide.

"We chose the seaside because it is peaceful. But this war finds you everywhere," said Hussein Hame, a 37-year-old father sheltering with his family. Vera Noon, a Lebanese doctoral student, called the sea "the last refuge" for those seeking calm amid hunger and cold nights during Ramadan.

Israel maintains its operations target Hezbollah infrastructure and Iranian backers, expanding from southern suburbs to central areas like Bachoura and Zuqaq al-Blat on March 18, where four strikes in eight hours destroyed buildings linked to the group's financial arm, killing at least 10. One 10-story building in Bachoura was leveled after an evacuation warning.

The escalation follows Hezbollah rocket barrages and reflects Israel's shift to once-safe zones. Displaced residents like Mohammed Ismail, an electronics store owner from Dahiya, find temporary solace by the sea but brace for more strikes. Lebanese authorities report mounting civilian tolls as the conflict risks broader regional involvement.