Israel strikes Beirut suburb, Nasrallah's fate unclear after Friday's massive attack - Reuters

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas of Lebanon on Saturday, a day after carrying out a massive attack on Hezbollah's headquarters that appeared to be aimed at killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Reuters reports.

The fate of Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah for 32 years, remains unclear, with Hezbollah yet to issue any statement on his status.

Reuters journalists heard more than 20 airstrikes in Beirut before dawn on Saturday and more after sunrise. Smoke could be seen rising over the city's Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, known as the Dahiyeh.

Thousands of people have fled the area since Friday's attack, congregating in squares, parks and sidewalks in downtown Beirut and seaside areas.

The Israeli military said a missile fired at central Israel on Saturday had struck an open area. Earlier, the military said about 10 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory and that some had been intercepted.

The Israeli military also said it was striking Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley, a region of eastern Lebanon at the Syrian border that it has pounded over the last week.

Israel's five hours of continuous strikes on Beirut early on Saturday followed Friday's attack, by far the most powerful by Israel on the city during the conflict with Hezbollah that has played out in parallel to the Gaza war for nearly a year.

The escalation has sharply increased fears the conflict could spiral out of control, potentially drawing in Iran, Hezbollah's principal backer, as well as the United States.

There was no immediate confirmation of Nasrallah's fate after Friday's heavy strikes, but a source close to Hezbollah told Reuters he was not reachable.

Israel has not said whether it tried to hit Nasrallah, but a senior Israeli official said top Hezbollah commanders were targeted.