Powerful Israeli airstrikes targeted central Beirut on Saturday, resulting in a large number of fatalities and injuries and destroying an eight-story building, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Israel used bunker-buster bombs in the strike, leaving a deep crater, said NNA. Beirut smelled strongly of explosives hours after the attack.

The blasts shook the capital around 4 a.m.

مشاهد أولية بعد الغارة التي استهدفت منطقة البسطة pic.twitter.com/3VZIWVlrew

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) November 23, 2024

NNA said at least five bombs were dropped in the attack.

مشاهد الدمار بعد الغارة الاسرائيلية على البسطة pic.twitter.com/WPmM8STB5s

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) November 23, 2024

It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, where the bulk of Israel's attacks have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

On Sunday an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

The Israeli military did not issue a warning for Basta's residents to evacuate prior to the strike and did not immediately issue a statement on it.

Israel has killed several Hezbollah leaders in airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, heavy ground fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants was ongoing in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops have pushed farther from the border.