Iran says four diplomats killed in Israeli strike on Beirut hotel

Four Iranian diplomats were killed in an Israeli strike on a hotel in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in the early morning of March 8, according to Iranian officials and Lebanese authorities.

Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres that the diplomats died in the attack on the Ramada Hotel in Beirut, describing the incident as a deliberate act by Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

The Israeli military confirmed that it had carried out a nighttime strike on the hotel but said the target was senior commanders of the Quds Force, a special unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the strike targeted five commanders from Lebanese and Palestinian branches linked to the Al-Quds structure operating in Syria, who were reportedly holding a meeting at the hotel at the time of the attack.

The Israeli military also said the Lebanese Al-Quds branch acts as a key intermediary between Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that four people were killed and 10 others injured in the strike on a hotel room in Beirut. Lebanese authorities confirmed the casualties following the early morning attack.

By Khagan Isayev