Four killed in Beirut hotel strike, Israel targets Iranian commanders

Four Killed in Beirut Hotel Strike

Beirut, Lebanon - An Israeli strike hit the Ramada hotel in central Beirut on March 8, 2026, killing at least four people and injuring ten. The attack targeted key commanders of Iran's elite Quds Force, according to Israeli officials. The hotel was housing displaced individuals fleeing the conflict in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern neighborhoods.

Israel had previously claimed to have killed Daoud Ali Zadeh, a Quds Force commander, in a strike in Tehran last week. Lebanon entered the broader US-Israel conflict with Iran after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes across the country.

First aid responders inspected the Ramada hotel room affected by the strike in Beirut's Raouche area. Israel had warned Lebanon of a 'disastrous' fallout if it did not rein in Iran-backed Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has been working to establish a state monopoly on arms, though this process has caused internal tensions.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military operation in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley aimed to locate the remains of Ron Arad, an Israeli navigator missing since 1986, but no related findings were made. Hezbollah responded by firing on Israeli troops near Nabi Chit, though no Israeli forces were injured.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported 41 deaths in the Nabi Chit area in the last 24 hours, including three Lebanese soldiers. Since Monday, Israeli strikes have killed 294 people and wounded over 1,000 across Lebanon. Around 300,000 people have been displaced, with only a third now in government shelters. The United Nations has warned the conflict is likely to worsen, urging urgent talks to end hostilities.

Over 150 Iranian nationals, including diplomats, left Lebanon following Israel's warnings. The Iranian embassy in Beirut temporarily evacuated their families and students. Hezbollah has urged Israeli citizens near the border to flee, but Israel has refused to evacuate its citizens.