At least 11 killed in Israeli strikes on central Beirut, Wafiq Safa reportedly targeted

Two Israeli strikes hit the central area of Lebanon’s capital on Thursday, the third such attack on Beirut since Israel escalated its air campaign last month.

Israel has repeatedly pounded southern Beirut suburbs for more than two weeks but strikes have rarely hit in the city’s center.

The strikes targeted residential neighborhoods in the area of Ras al-Nabaa-Nweiri and a large number of ambulances rushed to the targeted sites.

Three loud explosions were heard. An Associated Press photographer who went to the scene of the strikes said the first one, in the area of Ras al-Nabaa, appeared to have hit the lower half of an eight-story apartment building, and that explosions were ongoing inside the building. A large number of ambulances arrived at the scene.

The second strike, in the area of Burj Abi Haidar, collapsed an entire building, which was engulfed in flames.

A security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that the strikes hit two locations in the area of Nweiri.

Photos showed two plumes of smoke billowing in between densely-packed buildings where lights were still on in the windows.

Israeli media said Head of Hezbollah's Liaison and Coordination Unit Wafiq Safa was targeted in the strikes.

The health ministry said at least 11 people had been killed and 48 others injured in the strikes.

"The Israeli enemy's attacks on the capital Beirut this evening killed, according to a preliminary toll, 11 people and injured 48 others," the ministry said in a statement.

Last month, Israeli bombing killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in south Beirut.

Soon after the strikes on central Beirut, the Israeli military called on residents in Haret Hreik in southern Beirut to evacuate ahead of a likely strike.