An Israeli strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs Tuesday just minutes after a Hezbollah official cut short a news conference in the area, an AFP video journalist said.
Journalists hastily left the press conference held by Hezbollah spokesperson Mohammed Afif after the Israeli military warned people near two buildings in the Ghobeiri area to evacuate. The official National News Agency said Israeli aircraft then carried out a strike in the area.
The strike leveled a building in a heavily trafficked area across the street from the Horsh Beirut pine forest, which has become a refuge for many displaced families. It is also not far from the French ambassador’s residence.
No immediate casualties were reported. The Israeli military did not have immediate comment about the target of the strike.
Hezbollah spokesperson Afif said before evacuating the press conference that Hezbollah's micro-financing firm Al-Qard al-Hassan took all necessary precautions ahead of Israeli strikes last week, vowing to "fulfil its obligations" towards depositors.
The firm "had anticipated such... an aggression and has taken all precautions and will do everything that is necessary to fulfil its obligations towards depositors," he told reporters.
He also acknowledged that some of the group's fighters were captured by the Israeli army without giving numbers, adding that Israel "bears responsibility" for their lives.
"On the issue of captives currently held by the enemy, I say: I know that the enemy is not committed to the ethics of war and international conventions but it bears the responsibility of preserving the lives of the captives," he said, calling on the the International Committee of the Red Cross to ascertain their safety.