An Israeli airstrike killed at least 11 people and wounded 63 others in central Beirut early Saturday, Lebanese media reported, increasing the death toll from an initial four dead and 23 wounded.
"Beirut, the capital, woke up to a horrific massacre, as the Israeli enemy's air force completely destroyed an eight-story residential building with five missiles on Al-Mamoun Street in the Basta area," Lebanon's National News Agency said.
The attack, at about 4 a.m. local time (0200 UTC/GMT), saw five missiles level the building and damaging nearby structures.
According to media reports, at least three large explosions were heard in the capital.
This was the fourth Israeli strike in central Beirut this week, following earlier bombardments targeting southern suburbs controlled by Hezbollah.
On Friday, Israeli attacks in Beirut destroyed an 11-story building, further strikes in the country's south killed five Hezbollah paramedics, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The United Nations also reported intense fighting on Friday between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
According to the UN, a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, struck a base, leaving four Italian peacekeepers with minor injuries.
Hezbollah official targeted in Beirut strike, reports say
A deadly overnight strike on an eight-story building in central Beirut targeted a Hezbollah commander, according to a Lebanese security source cited by the AFP news agency.
"The Israeli strike on Basta targeted a leading Hezbollah figure," the security official told AFP without naming the figure.
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli public broadcaster KAN and Sky News Arabia reported that the airstrike had targeted Muhammad Haydar, Hezbollah's operations head.
It was not initially clear if Haydar was among those killed in the Israeli airstrike.
