RIGHT NOW: Air strikes on targets in Beirut: "Leader killed"

Lebanon
Israel has attacked targets in Beirut - several dead

Nora Fernstedt

Updated 17.07 | Published 15.02

Israel's military has attacked Beirut from the air.

Several people have been killed, including a high-ranking Hezbollah leader.

Images show great devastation in a densely populated suburb.

During the afternoon, Israel attacked Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Images show a thick cloud of smoke rising over the city.

The airstrike reportedly hit the densely populated suburb of Danieh. The Times of Israel describes the area as a strong Hezbollah stronghold, but also a residential area for civilians.

The target of the attack is said to be Ibrahim Aqil, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander. A source close to Hezbollah told the AFP news agency that Aqil was killed in the attack. Reuters has the same information.

Wanted by the US

Aqil has been wanted by the US for his role in a bombing in Beirut in 1983 where a suicide bomber rammed the US Marine Corps building, TT writes.

He has also been wanted for having led the hostage-taking of Americans and Germans in Lebanon in the 80s.

A rocket struck in one of Beirut's southern suburbs. Photo: Bilal Hussein/AP

Information about dead children

Pictures from the scene show great devastation. According to the Lebanese national news agency NNA, several robots hit a multi-family building and many civilians have been affected - among others, several children are said to have died.

Eight people have so far been confirmed dead and 59 are said to be injured, several of them seriously, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.

It was around 15:00 that Israel's military IDF announced that they had carried out an air attack in Beirut. The Israeli military says it has attacked Hezbollah targets.

During Friday, Hezbollah fired 140 rockets at northern Israel, both the group and the IDF said.