Israeli strike hits central Beirut area, northern Israel town struck by rockets

An Israeli drone strike hit a neighborhood in central Beirut on Monday, a Lebanese security source said, the second day in a row that a target within the Lebanese capital has been struck as Israel presses its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

At least four people were killed and 18 others were injured incentral Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Monday.

Smoke was seen rising from the location of the strike in the Zuqaq al-Blat area, a short distance from the central Beirut district where the Lebanese government is headquartered.

Since Israel launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in late September, the bulk of its airstrikes in the Beirut area have targeted the group's strongholds in the southern suburbs.

But on Sunday, Israel hit targets in the Beirut city limits for the first time in more than five weeks, killing 10 people in two separate strikes, including Hezbollah's top media official.

Israel has dealt big blows to Hezbollah since late September, killing its leader SayyedHassan Nasrallah, pounding wide areas ofLebanonwith airstrikes, and sending troops into southernLebanon. Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into northern Israel, where sirens sounded again on Monday.

A woman was killed and several others were wounded when a rocket struck a multi-storey building in Shfaram in northern Israel on Monday, Israel's ambulance service said.

The Israeli military said about five projectiles had been fired fromLebanon.

"Interception attempts were made and fallen projectiles were identified," the military said.

According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,516 people andwounded 14,929others since Oct. 7, 2023, the vast majority of them since late September. It does not distinguish between civilian casualties and fighters.

Hezbollah attacks have killed about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year, according to Israel.