BEIRUT – Israeli airstrikes late Thursday killed 22 people in central Beirut, the worst attack on the city center since the recent hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah stepped up their deadly game. The raids struck a densely populated residential neighborhood that had so far remained untouched by the violence, sending the death toll soaring, 117 other people were reported wounded.

The target area was not part of the southern suburbs where Hezbollah’s headquarters had been bombed repeatedly. According to sources, the target was Wafiq Safa, one of the most important Hezbollah figures, who is supposed to communicate with Lebanese agencies in charge of security; though reportedly, he survived.

The health ministry in Lebanon confirmed the toll, with one security source saying the family of eight, with three children, had been evacuated from southern Lebanon. The airstrikes came hours after the Israeli military issued new evacuation warnings for the southern suburbs of Beirut, cautioning civilians to stay away from conflict zones.

As tensions continued to escalate, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon issued a warning that its peacekeepers were being put in greater and greater danger. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of peacekeeping for the United Nations, said more than 10,400 UN peacekeepers were stationed in southern Lebanon and indicated that operations had slowed almost to a near-halt since late September. He also said 300 peacekeepers would be evacuated temporarily for security reasons following the death of one contractor.

UNIFIL blamed Israeli forces for deliberately targeting its positions, wounding two peacekeepers. Israel’s military said its troops operated near a UNIFIL base but claimed its troops ordered the UN forces to stay in areas covered by shelters before they opened fire. “We’re very concerned about what happened today,” a White House spokesman said, adding that it will seek details of the incident from Israel.

With the threat escalating, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said that peacekeepers remain committed to performing their duties. The UN Security Council and contributing states stand by the mission between the Blue Line, which is a recognized UN buffer boundary separating Lebanon from Israel.”.

The conflict, which began more than a year ago when Hezbollah joined the Gaza war in support of Hamas, has been ratcheted up recently. Israel has waged strikes across Lebanon, from the southern suburbs of Beirut to the Bekaa Valley and the south, where it has also deployed ground troops.

The Middle East remains on tenterhooks as it prepares itself for further escalation, especially after the Iranian missile attack that could prompt Israel to retaliate with all its might, which happened on October 1.