Rubble, burnt out cars

Reuters witnesses heard jet noise over Beirut around the time of the attack, and a cloud of smoke could be seen rising from the area of the strike.

“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) conducted a targeted strike in Beirut. At this moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines,” the Israeli military said.

Footage of the targeted building showed a badly damaged building and the street strewn with rubble and burnt out cars.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV declared it an act of aggression on the southern suburbs known as the Dahiyeh.

Ignited by the Gaza war, the conflict has intensified significantly this week.

On Thursday night, the Israeli military carried out its most intensive airstrikes in southern Lebanon since the conflict erupted almost a year ago.

The year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is the worst since they fought a war in 2006. Tens of thousands have had to leave homes on both sides of the border.

While the conflict has largely been contained to areas at, or near the frontier, this week’s escalation has heightened concerns that it could widen and further intensify.

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Israeli newspapers reported that due to the current situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had delayed his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly by a day and would arrive on Wednesday.

Britain’s foreign minister David Lammy chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, known as COBR, on Friday to discuss the latest situation in Lebanon.

“The Foreign Secretary has chaired a meeting of COBR this morning on the latest situation in Lebanon and to discuss ongoing preparedness work, with the risk of escalation remaining high,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Reuters