An Israeli airstrike hit a hotel in central Beirut early Sunday, killing at least four people and wounding ten others, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as Israel stated the attack targeted commanders from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The strike struck a seafront hotel in the Raouche district of the Lebanese capital.

The Israeli military said it carried out what it described as a “targeted strike” against key commanders belonging to the Lebanon Corps of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the Israeli army, those targeted were members of the unit who “acted to advance terror plans against the State of Israel and its citizens from Lebanese territory.”

The military accused Iran of operating among civilian populations in both Iran and Lebanon.

“The Iranian terror regime systematically operates among civilian populations in both Iran and Lebanon, cynically exploiting residents and using them as human shields to further terrorist objectives,” the army said in a statement.

It added that the Israeli forces took several measures to limit the risk to civilians, including the use of precision-guided weapons and aerial surveillance.

Later, the Israeli army identified those killed as members of the IRGC’s Quds Force operating within its Palestine and Lebanon units and were involved in supporting both Hezbollah and Hamas with funding and intelligence. 

• Majid Hassini, described as a senior financial operative in the Lebanon Corps who, according to the IDF, oversaw the transfer of Iranian funds to allied groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

• Ali Reza Bi-Azar, head of intelligence in the Lebanon Corps.

• Ahmad Rasouli, intelligence chief in the Palestine Corps.

• Hossein Ahmadlou, a lower-ranking intelligence officer in the Lebanon Corps.

• Abu Muhammad Ali, identified as Hezbollah’s liaison to the Palestine Corps.