Air strike hits Beirut building, search for Zahra Abboud begins

Why this is here: At least 24 people died in the Israeli air strike on the Hamad Building.

Israeli air strikes hit the Hamad Building in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 8th. The attack occurred around 2:15 PM, shattering a day of anticipated ceasefire.

The building's lower floors collapsed, trapping residents and killing at least 24 people. Zahra Abboud, 27, a biochemistry student, went missing in the wreckage. Her father, Qassem, and brother, Ali, began a difficult search for her remains amidst the destruction.

The search involved sifting through debris for days. Fragments, including a distinctive arm, were recovered from the building's ruins.

DNA tests later confirmed the arm belonged to Zahra. The strike, part of Operation Eternal Darkness, killed many, including Zahra's aunt Amal and a domestic worker. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported over 357 deaths nationwide that day.

Identifying victims proved challenging in the chaotic aftermath, with body parts sometimes misclassified. Zahra was eventually buried in her hometown of Anqoun.

The remaining half of the Hamad Building has been vacated while its fate is determined. The work to account for all victims and rebuild continues.