Israel targets Hezbollah HQ in Beirut

The Israeli military has said that it struck the headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, where a series of massive explosions levelled multiple buildings and sent clouds of orange and black smoke into the sky.

At least two people were killed and dozens were wounded, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to three major Israeli TV channels, was the target of the strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, reports Associated Press.

Given the size and timing of the blasts, there were strong indications that a senior leader may have been inside the buildings struck.

Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said the strikes targeted the main Hezbollah headquarters, located beneath residential buildings.

The series of gigantic blasts at around nightfall reduced six buildings to rubble in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburbs, according to Lebanon’s national news agency.

First responders were still searching under the rubble hours later as others struggled to put out fires. The full scope of casualties was not immediately clear, the health ministry said, adding that 15 of the 76 wounded had been hospitalized. Many people who live in the vicinity were seen gathering belongings and fleeing along a main road out of the district.

The Pentagon said the US had no advance warning of the strikes.