Israel has launched a massive airstrike in Beruit targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to reports.

A huge cloud of smoke was seen rising after explosions rocked a densely populated suburb of Lebanon’s capital a short time ago. The IDF said it “recently attacked the central headquarters of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is located under residential buildings in the heart of the Da’aheh in Beirut”.

“As of this time, there is no change in the directives of the Home Front Command. We will update any changes immediately on the official platforms of the Home Front Command,” the statement added.

The American outlet Fox News claimed that Nasrallah, the secretary general of the political party and paramilitary group, was the target of the massive strike.

According to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, four buildings were destroyed. Saudi state owned outlet Al Arabiya reported on X that Nasrallah was not killed in the blast, citing sources, though little is known about the casualties that have resulted.

Israeli media is reporting 2000-ton bunker-busting bombs were used in the attack, as per Al Jazeera.

TRT Arabic journalist Mohanad AlArawi shared an image of the bombsite on X, formerly Twitter, showing piles of debris and rubble, smoke and rising dust.

Israel continued strikes in Lebanon today, amid fears of all-out war breaking out in the Middle East. More than 700 people have been killed in Lebanon since Monday, according to the country’s health ministry.

An Israeli ground invasion appears imminent after the IDF called up two more reserve brigades – amounting to several thousand troops, it was reported on Thursday.

The deployment to northern Israel, which borders southern Lebanon, came just hours after a senior Israeli commander told his troops “We need to be very ready to go into action and to invade”.

The IDF said the call-up was intended for future “operational missions” in the north.

The UK, the US, France and other allies have called for a 21-day cease-fire and urged Netanyahu to step back from the brink of a huge escalation. Lebanon’s foreign minister said the country welcomed the cease-fire efforts and decried Israel’s “systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages”.

Hezbollah, which has a significant presence in parliament and the Lebanese government says it’s continuing to fire missiles into Israel.

The group, which is designated as a terror organisation by nations including the UK and the US, is backed by Iran and says it stands in solidarity with Hamas as Israel‘s invasion of Gaza continues.

Shortly before the strike in Beirut, Israel‘s PM addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, vowing that his forces will “continue degrading Hezbollah” until achieving its goals along the Lebanon border, further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire.

He said his government would no longer tolerate daily rocket fire from the area.