Israel launches series of overnight airstrikes on southern Beirut

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in the early hours of Saturday.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) called on residents in the Dahieh neighbourhood of Beirut to move away from Hezbollah assets and facilities.

"We will continue operating to precisely dismantle Hezbollah's offensive capabilities. Hezbollah has strategically embedded weapons in civilian areas, putting Lebanese civilians at risk in order to harm Israeli civilians," the IDF posted on social media platform X.

"Our war is with Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon."

Hezbollah said in a statement that there was "no truth" to Israel's statements that there were weapons or depots in the targeted buildings.

There were initially no reports of casualties overnight.

Thousands of Lebanese congregated in parks in downtown Beirut and in seaside areas.

On Friday, at least six people were killed and 91 injured in Israeli attacks on the densely populated Beirut neighbourhood of Haret Hreik, in the Dahieh suburb, according to the Lebanese authorities.

The military said the strike was a targeted attack on the headquarters of the Hezbollah militia, located under a residential building.

Israeli media reported that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the attack, but that has not been confirmed by the government or military. His whereabouts were currently unknown.

The IDF said later it had killed Hezbollah's commander of its missile unit in an airstrike.

They said Muhammad Ali Ismail was responsible for firing rockets on Israel and for directing terrorist attacks. In addition to Ali Ismail, his deputy Hussein Ahmad Ismail was also killed, the IDF said.