Israel has carried out a strike on Beirut for the first time since it agreed a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in November.
The Israeli military says the strike targeted infrastructure storing drones that were used by Hezbollah in the city’s southern suburbs.
It comes after Israel’s army urgently warned people to evacuate parts of a Beirut suburb on Friday as it vowed to retaliate against strikes which it said were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel.
Heavy smoke in areas bombed by Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. Pic: AP
People try to find safety after an Israeli airstrike in Hadath, in Beirut Pic: AP
Lebanon’s government ordered all schools and universities in Beirut’s southern suburb of Hadath to close for the day.
In some parts of the southern suburbs, shooting could be heard, warning people to leave their homes, and many residents were seen fleeing the area in cars and on foot.
Associated Press reporters in Beirut said they heard a large boom and saw smoke rising from the area that Israel’s military had said it would strike.
An Israeli drone flies over southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. Pic: AP
Though it’s the first Israeli strike on Beirut since November’s ceasefire with the Hezbollah miltant group, Israel has struck targets in southern Lebanon almost daily since then.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
