By Riley Stuart, Middle East correspondent Allyson Horn in Jerusalem, and Cherine Yazbeck in Beirut
People watch as a blaze rages amid the smouldering rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli air strike in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut's southern suburbs. Photo: NurPhoto via AFP
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has bombed several residential buildings in southern Beirut, claiming Hezbollah's "central headquarters" were embedded underneath.
Massive explosions could be heard across Lebanon's capital about 6.20pm local time. Large plumes of smoke were also visible.
Previous IDF strikes in Beirut have been attempts to kill the leadership of the Hezbollah militant group.
Multiple media outlets in the Middle East claimed the target of the strike was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
In a statement released hours after the bombing, Hezbollah said nothing about its general secretary's condition. It said there was "not truth to any statement" about Israel's strikes.
Around two hours after the strikes, Lebanon's health ministry said two people had died and 76 had been wounded.
While Israel has increased its attacks on Lebanon significantly this week, it is believed Friday evening's strikes were the largest since the conflict broke out.
Witnesses said the strikes sent shockwaves across the city, as people rushed off the streets.
Residents in social media groups started posting videos shot by residents living near the location of the bombing showing large explosions.
Hezbollah's al-Manar television network claimed four buildings had been destroyed.
The bombing marks another escalation with the Iran-backed militant group.
In a video statement shortly after the blasts, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed the attack.
He said Hezbollah's headquarters had been "intentionally built under residential buildings" and that the militant group "must be stopped".
The attack came about half an hour after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he said there was "no place" Israel's weapons could not reach in the Middle East.
He subsequently cut short his trip to New York and returned to Israel.
Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike targeting the southern Lebanese village of Khiam earlier this week, as Israel escalated its attacks on Hezbollah. Photo: RABIH DAHER/AFP
While Israel has exchanged fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah for almost 12 months, it has escalated its attacks this week.
The Lebanese health ministry said about 700 people had been killed since Monday and thousands more injured, although that was before Friday evening's largest bombardment.
Earlier this week, the United States and France attempted to broker a deal that would have seen a pause in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal was snubbed by Netanyahu.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the latest strikes showed that Israel did not care about a ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden said his country had no prior knowledge of Israel's planned strikes.
- ABC