Major Israeli airstrike in Beirut targeting senior Hezbollah figure kills at least 22 and wounds hundreds

A MAJOR Israeli airstrike in Beirut targeting a senior Hezbollah figure has killed at least 22 and wounded hundreds.

The terrifying air raid on the capital is one of the deadliest so far as tensions in the region spiralled in recent weeks.

The chilling airstrike hit two residential buildings in separate neighbourhoods simultaneously - tearing down one eight-story building and wiping out the lower floors of the other, according to AP.

Loud explosions billowed from the city as rescuers were spotted digging through rubble at the scene.

Reports have suggested that the apparent target was one of Hezbollah's high-ranking security officials Wafiq Safa - who is also Hassan Nasrallah's brother-in-law.

Hezbollah's Al Manar TV claimed that the apparent attempt to kill Safa had failed - adding that he hadn't been inside of either of the targeted buildings.

The Israeli military have said it is looking into the reported strikes.

Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets have become more common in Beirut's southern suburbs since the deadly war began.

But the city had seen two relatively quiet days following intensive strikes in recent weeks.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have become palpable with Israel carrying out waves of heavy strikes across Lebanon and launching a ground invasion.

Huge blasts have continued to rock Beirut - with dramatic footage showing a gigantic explosion rising up above the city.

The huge plumes of smoke billowing over the Lebanese capital come as the Israeli port city of Haifa was also struck by Hezbollah rockets on Sunday evening.

Local Israeli media reported that five people were injured by shrapnel in the blitz on the eve of the October 7 terror attack anniversary.

Hezbollah has said in statement it targeted a military base near Haifa, which is located in northern Israel.

But footage posted to social media appeared to show damage to roads in civilian areas.

The IDF said around 120 rockets were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Sunday.

In a post on X, Israel's military said its fighter jets had hit the intelligence headquarters of Hezbollah in the fresh strikes on Beirut.

They said: "In addition, warplanes have recently attacked the organisation's munitions warehouses in the Beirut area.

"During the attacks, secondary explosions were seen, indicating the presence of weapons.

"The terrorist organisation Hezbollah places its headquarters and means of warfare under residential buildings in the heart of the city of Beirut and endangers the population in the area."

It comes after Israel hit Beirut on Saturday leading to another massive set of blasts in the same suburb as where Hezbollah's leader was recently killed.

Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an underground command post in Dahieh last week.

The IDF then pounded the suburb with 80 bombs over just several minutes in the late afternoon destroying the hideaway.

The bunker reached 50m underground and held a number of other senior members of the group.

Israel has continued to prosecute its air campaign against Hezbollah as it appears to be set to strike Iran.

The Islamic Republic tonight grounded all flights for a nine- hour period, to only then open its airspace back up several hours later.

MIDDLE EAST ON FIRE

Israel launched their ground offensive into Lebanon last week as they continue to look to eliminate Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah from the Middle East.

The IDF said it began "limited" and "localised" ground raids against Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon.

Thousands of civilians have already fled the country's south as the showdown between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.

The Israel Defense Forces has now poured more troops into Lebanon - deploying a fourth division.

Its 146th Reserve Division has joined three standing army divisions -  the 98th, 36th, and 91st - already operating in the south.

Israel now has a likely 15,000-strong army in Lebanon.

The focus of the operation is clearing out Hezbollah terror sites to halt rocket attacks which have driven 60,000 from homes in Northern Israel in the last 11 months.

It claimed actions there would remain "limited and localised".

Israel has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a series of massive aircraft strikes that rocked Lebanon.

Following Nasrallah's death, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - one of his closest allies - ordered a massive air blitz that saw more than 180 ballistic missiles attacking Israel.

Khamenei said Lebanon would make Israel "regret their actions" and blasted the "shortsighted and foolish" policies of Israeli leaders.

He claimed Israel was "too small" to cause any damage to Hezbollah.

Israel is now said to be preparing a revenge blitz for a tit-for-tat attack that could push the Middle East into a wider all-out war.

It comes as...

• Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut and expanded no-go zone
•  Sinwar’s ‘right hand man’ was killed in bunker blitz in Gaza
•  Brits fleeing Lebanon in superyachts to Aiya Napa for £2,500
•  Iran could have nuclear missiles in six months, expert warns
•  Iran’s missile blitz ‘killed more of its own soldiers than Israelis'
•  Vid shows guards on Brit ship firing at Houthi drone boat
•  Eight IDF soldiers died in Hezbollah ambush in Lebanon
•  Israel plans revenge on Iran from secret mountain bunker

Benjamin Netanyahu has promised Iran would pay for that missile attack, while Tehran said any retaliation would be met with vast destruction.

The Israeli PM is expected to speak to US President Joe Biden to discuss any plans Israel may have to strike back at Iran.

Experts speculate that Israel could choose to strike either IRGC military locations and Iranian oil fields - which could cripple Iran's sanction-hit economy - or target Iran's secret nuclear bases.

The latter could see the regional conflict turn into a devastating war with mass casualties and destruction on both sides.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah's acting leader issued a chilling warning to Israel from inside a hidden bunker - vowing to furiously fight on.

Naim Qassem, 71, gave a television address from inside war-torn Lebanon as the biggest-ever rocket blitz from the terror group rained down on an Israeli city.

The stand-in boss Qassem defiantly said the terror group is still intact despite Israel dealing “powerful blows” in recent weeks.

He said: “The party’s leadership and the resistance [Hezbollah] are meticulously organised.

“We have overcome painful blows.

“We are firing hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones. A large number of settlements and cities are under the fire of the resistance.

“Our capabilities are fine and our fighters are deployed along the front lines.”

The acting chief also said there are “no vacant posts” in Hezbollah’s leadership as he appeared to speak from a secret underground bunker.