BEIRUT

The Israeli military carried out an airstrike early Wednesday on Dahiyeh district in the southern part of the Lebanese capital Beirut, witnesses said.

Israeli warplanes struck the area, with explosions heard across the Lebanese capital and its surroundings. Smoke was seen rising from the targeted site.

Earlier in the night, Israeli forces also targeted vehicles in the Jnah area of Dahiyeh, which is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah.

At least five people were killed and 21 injured in that strike, according to initial reports.

Dahiyeh is known as a key Hezbollah stronghold and has been repeatedly targeted in Israeli strikes.

Israel has carried out airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire that took effect in November 2024.

Hezbollah has fired barrages of rockets into Israel since early March, saying the attacks are in response to continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon and the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28.

Lebanese authorities say at least 1,247 people have been killed and 3,690 have been injured in Israeli attacks.