Israel intensified its attacks to target Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, hitting a densely populated neighborhood in Beirut on Thursday after days of launching airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. At least 22 people were killed and 117 wounded, according to Lebanon's Public Health Ministry.

Five hospitals have been put on high alert to take in casualties from the blast after what appeared to be two separate strikes.

Israel appeared to target Hezbollah's security chief in air strikes on Beirut that killed 22 people, in the deadliest raid on the centre of Lebanon's capital since the Israel-Hezbollah war began.The raid came as Israel prepared to observe Yom Kippur,