At least four missiles fired in strike that rocked Beirut

This marks the fourth Israeli airstrike this week, targeting a central area of Beirut.

By REUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF NOVEMBER 23, 2024 04:26 Updated: NOVEMBER 23, 2024 05:20

Sparks are seen over Beirut's southern suburbs, after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 23, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)

A powerful Israeli airstrike targeted central Beirut early on Saturday, security sources said, shaking the Lebanese capital as Israel pressed its offensive against Hezbollah.

Several powerful blasts shook Beirut at around 4:00 a.m. (0200 GMT), Reuters witnesses said. At least four rockets were fired in the attack, two security sources said.

Sirens could be heard as ambulances raced to the scene of the blast in Beirut's Basta neighborhood.

Footage broadcast by Lebanon's Al Jadeed showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it.

Several people were killed and injured in an Israeli strike that targeted a residential building in central Beirut, Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV reported.

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs, after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 23, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)

The strikes follow earlier evacuation warnings posted by IDF Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee to X/Twitter on Friday night. In it, he called for the evacuation of certain neighborhoods in Beirut, including Haret Hreik and Al-Ghobeiry. 

Adraee warned residents that they were located near Hezbollah facilities and that the IDF would soon operate in these areas. 

#عاجل إلى جميع السكان المتواجدين في منطقة الضاحية الجنوبية وتحديدًا في المباني المحددة في الخرائط المرفقة والمباني المجاورة لها في المناطق التالية: حارة حريكالغبيري⭕️أنتم تتواجدون بالقرب من منشآت ومصالح تابعة لحزب الله حيث سيعمل ضدها جيش الدفاع على المدى الزمني القريب… pic.twitter.com/93TCJe5ZC0

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) November 22, 2024

He told residents to evacuate at least 500 meters away from these areas. 

Fourth strike this week

It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week, targeting a central area of Beirut. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah media official in the Ras al-Nabaa district.

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Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon in September, following nearly a year of cross-border hostilities ignited by the Gaza war, pounding wide areas of Lebanon with airstrikes and sending troops into the south.

The conflict began when Hezbollah opened fire in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas after it launched the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.