Israeli airstrikes on Beirut kill 18, targeting senior Hezbollah figure

Israeli strikes on central Beirut on Thursday night killed 18 people and wounded at least 92, Lebanon's health ministry said, as a Lebanese security source said at least one senior Hezbollah figure was targeted in the attacks.

A thick column of smoke rose in the heart of Beirut and Reuters witnesses said at least one strike hit near a gas station in a densely packed residential neighbourhood of apartment buildings and small shops.

A large fire blazed in the background as rescue workers used torches to search the rubble for survivors, according to video broadcast by Hezbollah’s al-Manar television.

The identity of the Hezbollah target was not clear. The neighbourhood was not previously hit by Israel and is well removed from Beirut's southern suburbs.

There was no immediate comment on the incident by Israel, but its army issued a new evacuation warning on Thursday night for Beirut's southern suburbs including specific buildings.

Earlier in the day, Israel warned Lebanese civilians not to return to homes in the south to avoid harm from fighting.

The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force's main headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, hitting the tower and causing the peacekeepers to fall. There were no casualties in two other incidents, a UN source said.

"Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding it was following up with the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, France said it was waiting for explanations from Israel after UN peacekeeping troops were targeted in Lebanon on Thursday and that it was an obligation to ensure their safety.

"France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and condemns any attack on the security of UNIFIL," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that none of its 700 troops in the mission had been wounded.

"We await explanations from the Israeli authorities. The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to a conflict."

The White House said the US was deeply concerned by reports that Israeli forces fired on UN positions and was pressing Israel for details. Israel's military said in a statement its troops operated in the Naqoura area, "next to a UNIFIL base."

"Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, following which the forces opened fire in the area," Israel's statement said, adding it maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.

Hezbollah said it had fired a missile salvo at Israeli forces on Thursday as they were trying to pull casualties out of the Ras al-Naqoura area, and they were directly hit.

In New York, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel was focused on fighting Hezbollah and recommends "UNIFIL relocate 5 km (3 miles) north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies". 

Reuters reported last week that the Israeli military had sent a message asking UN peacekeepers to prepare to move "as soon as possible, in order to maintain your safety".

Danon added that "Israel has no desire to be in Lebanon, but it will do what is necessary" to drive Hezbollah away from its northern border so 70,000 displaced residents can return to their homes in northern Israel.

The conflict erupted one year ago when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. It has intensified dramatically in recent weeks, with Israel bombing Beirut's southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa Valley, before sending in ground forces.

The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation in the region, awaiting Israel's response to an Iranian missile strike on October 1.

Gulf states are lobbying Washington to stop Israel attacking Iran's oil sites because they are concerned their own oil facilities could come under fire from Tehran's proxies if the conflict worsens, three Gulf sources told Reuters.

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday about potential Israeli retaliation against Iran, in a call both sides described as positive.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,169 people in Lebanon over the last year, the Lebanese government said in its daily update. The majority have been killed since September 27, when Israel expanded its military campaign. The toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Hezbollah cross-border fire at Israel has killed 53 people over the same period, more than half of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.