Very violent Israeli strikes pound Beirut's southern suburbs

More than two dozen Israeli strikes hit south of Beirut Saturday night into Sunday, some of them very violent, with explosions heard for over two hours in one of the most intense barrages yet.

"Israeli enemy warplanes carried out four very violent strikes on (Beirut's) southern suburbs, and one strike on the Choueifat" area, with ambulances rushing to the site, Lebanon's National News Agency said at the beginning of the attacks.

Explosions were heard for miles across the city and beyond. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from targeted areas, which included Burj al Barajneh, Haret Hreik, and Ghobeiry.

In one location a ball of flame rose into the air while flares shot up amid thick smoke for about an hour.

An AFP correspondent in the Sabra area saw dozens of people on the streets, some carrying bags fleeing on foot or on motorbikes as explosions echoed in the background.

The NNA said air traffic at the Beirut airport, in close proximity to the targeted areas, was "ongoing despite the Israeli enemy's aggression on the southern suburbs. Several Middle East Airlines planes have just landed".

The Israeli army claimed it was striking targets belonging to Hezbollah "in the area of Beirut" in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Earlier Saturday night, the Israeli army announced a new call for residents to evacuate from Beirut's southern suburbs.

Most people have already left the area.

But despite warnings to hit certain "Hezbollah targets," the Israeli military then continues to bomb other sites not announced. Many neighbourhoods have been flattened by the blitz.

Lebanon's Hezbollah group and its foe Israel have been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire for nearly a year in fallout from the Gaza war.

But since September 23, Israel began escalating and launched a devastating aerial campaign in Lebanon that has killed more than 1,110 people and forced around 1.2 million to flee their homes. Many of those killed include children, women and paramedics.

Last week, Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in massive air strikes on the group's bastion in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

At the border, Israeli troops have for days failed to advance into south Lebanon, repelled by Hezbollah fighters.