Rescuers search for victims or survivors amid the rubble of a levelled building, following an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut’s Basta neighbourhood. AFP
"Israeli warplanes launched two violent strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in the Kafaat area," the official NNA said.
The southern Beirut area has been repeatedly battered since September 23, when Israel intensified its air campaign on Lebanon, also targeting the country's east and south. It later invaded southern Lebanon.
AFPTV footage showed grey smoke billowing over south Beirut.
The raids "caused massive destruction over a large geographical area" of the Kafaat district, NNA said.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned on social media platform X that the military would strike the Hadath and Burj al-Barajneh districts, also sharing maps of the areas to be evacuated.
Israel escalated its assault on Lebanon following nearly a year of limited exchanges of fire with the Hezbollah group since 7 October.
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