Israel has unleashed a series of huge strikes on Beirut, with its military saying it struck the central headquarters of the militant group Hezbollah.

The attack shook windows across the Lebanese capital and sent thick clouds of smoke billowing into the air.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the intended target of the strike and a senior Israeli official said it was too early to say whether the attack was successful.

“I think it’s too early to say, but, you know, it’s a question of time. Sometimes they hide the fact when we succeed,”
the official said when asked if the Israeli strike on Friday had killed Nasrallah.

Asked how long it might take to determine the fate of Nasrallah, the senior Israeli official said: “Certainly if he’s
alive, you’ll know it very immediately. If he’s dead, it may take some time.”

A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters Nasrallah is still alive, and Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported he was safe.

Israel-Hezbollah latest: Explosions in Beirut as Israel ‘targets head of Hezbollah’ in huge airstrike

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least two were killed and 76 wounded in the strikes. It said the figures were preliminary.

The Israeli military claimed it had carried out a “precise strike” on Hezbollah’s headquarters which it said were “embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut”.

It was the strongest strike carried out by Israel in Beirut during its nearly year-long conflict with Hezbollah, which began when the Iran-backed group began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas attacked from Gaza on 7 October.

Israel has struck the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahieh, four times over the last week – killing at least three senior Hezbollah commanders.

Smoke rises after multiple Israeli strikes in Beirut. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Smoke rises after multiple Israeli strikes in Beirut. Pic: Reuters

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the central command centre was embedded deep within civilian areas.

Four buildings in Dahieh were reduced to rubble, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV reported.

Confusion around Nasrallah’s condition – and it could force Iran into a decision

There is still confusion around the fate of Hezbollah General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah.

After suspiciously rapid statements that he was “safe” there has not been an update for some hours. If he is alive, I would expect him to appear on TV as soon as possible to reassure his supporters and in a message of defiance.

Israeli sources say he was the target of the attacks but are yet to indicate whether they were successful. The blast site is so large, it will take time for rescue workers to find the dead. The civilian death toll is likely to rise considerably.

This is a pivotal moment. If Nasrallah has been killed it will be the biggest success for Israel so far. They tried to find and kill him in 2006, but failed. Leaders can be easily replaced and often with someone more dangerous than before, as witnessed by the killing of the former Hezbollah leader Abbas Al-Musawi in 1992. He was succeeded by Nasrallah.

Even if Nasrallah is dead, Hezbollah isn’t.

The immediate assumption is that the group would respond with barrages of missiles into Israel, probably targeting Tel Aviv.

So far tonight, there have been around 30 missiles fired. We witnessed interceptions in Haifa and one rocket hit a house in Safed. Much more could come.

But Hezbollah will again be in disarray. Their command structure has been severely degraded. It will probably take time to co-ordinate a response and it will probably be with Iranian guidance.

Iran must also make a choice now. Tehran has not seen eye to eye with Nasrallah in recent weeks, but the loss of such an important ally will be a huge blow to the Supreme Leader, if it turns out that he has been killed.

Having resisted the opportunity to get involved, Iran might decide the time has come to take the gloves off and deploy the thousands of missiles they have provided Hezbollah with.

Alternatively, after such a difficult 10 days, they might decide this round of fighting needs to end and pull back with Hezbollah still in some shape to rebuild and fight another day.

Iran’s embassy in Beirut described the strikes as a “dangerous, game-changing escalation”, calling them a “crime” that merits “appropriate punishment”.

The site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs. Pic: Reuters
The site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs. Pic: Reuters
Image:
The site of an Israeli strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Pics: Reuters

The strikes came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep up Israel’s attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon during a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

“As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely,” he said.

“Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say enough is enough.”

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‘Everywhere in Lebanon is dangerous’

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has dramatically escalated this week, with Israeli airstrikes killing more than 700 people in Lebanon, raising fears of an all-out war between the two sides.

Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes on both sides of the border.