Israeli foreign minister says 'Beirut in flames' after latest attacks

Israeli attacks have left "Beirut in flames," the country's foreign minister said on Monday morning, after a major offensive targeting Hezbollah's financial assets.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that over 15 buildings were struck and posted a photo of a large fireball rising over the skyline of Lebanon's capital.

He said residents had been told to evacuate before the sites were hit.

"Hezbollah has paid and will continue to pay a heavy price for its attacks on northern Israel and its rocket fire. We will keep striking the Iranian proxy until it collapses," he wrote.

Videos of the attacks released by the Israeli military showed an airstrike that caused two multi-storey houses to collapse.

The military said the wave of airstrikes that began on Monday were aimed at branches of al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial association linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The association manages funds that are used to finance the activities of Hezbollah, including the purchase of weapons and payments to members of the military wing of Hezbollah, according to Israel.