Israel on Monday renewed its strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanese state media reported, after Israel warned it would target branches of a financial firm linked to Hezbollah.Footage on AFPTV's live broadcast showed large plumes of smoke rising from the area, where the Iran-backed group holds sway.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military warned it would strike branches of Al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial firm mainly operating in Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon's south, east and Beirut's southern suburbs.
Israel launched at least three strikes Monday on Beirut's south, according to the state-run National News Agency and AFP correspondents.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes.
Israel, which had kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah even before the war despite a 2024 ceasefire, launched multiple attacks last week across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas.
Roads leading to one of Al-Qard al-Hassan's branches in Beirut were closed on Monday, according to witnesses.
In Lebanon's southern city of Sidon, an area outside of Hezbollah's traditional strongholds, an AFP correspondent saw ambulances and civil defence vehicles gather around another branch.
Israel also bombed the firm's branches during its last war with Hezbollah in 2024, including the one in Sidon. The company is under US sanctions.
