Hezbollah has vowed furious retaliation after huge explosions shook Beirut on Friday (local time) in one of Israel’s biggest attacks in years, targeting the terror group’s central headquarters in a residential area.

Thick clouds of smoke rose above the city as several buildings were destroyed in the deadly strikes, which signalled another major escalation in the conflict.

Multiple blasts rattled windows across Beirut — by far the most powerful attack carried out by Israel in Beirut during nearly a year of conflict with Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said it launched a “precise strike” on Hezbollah’s headquarters, which it said was “embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh in Beirut”.

It has been reported that Israel was aiming to kill Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and has been checking if they were successful.

A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters that Nasrallah was alive while Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported he was safe.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves the strikes from the US. Photo: Israel PM’s office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes while he was in New York where he earlier gave a fiery address to the United Nations General Assembly.

The attack on Beirut was in defiance of calls from the US and various allies, including Australia, for a 21-day ceasefire.

“Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say enough is enough,” said Netanyahu.

Netanyahu’s office said he would cut short his trip to New York following the strike and would return to Israel early.

‘Serious escalation’

The Iranian embassy in Beirut vowed punishment while saying the Israeli strike “changes the rules of the game”.

“The Israeli regime once again commits a bloody massacre, targeting heavily populated residential neighbourhoods, spewing false justifications to try and cover up its brutal crimes,” the embassy posted on X.

“There is no doubt that this reprehensible crime and reckless behaviour represent a serious escalation that changes the rules of the game, and that its perpetrator will be punished appropriately.”

Iran-aligned Hezbollah’s al-Manar television showed search and rescue teams scrambling over concrete and protruding metal.

A correspondent for the TV station said the attack had left several large craters and damaged many surrounding buildings.

Lebanese army soldiers at the blast site. Photo: Getty

In a televised statement, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Hezbollah’s central command centre was embedded deep within civilian areas.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the attack showed Israel did not care about global calls for a Lebanon ceasefire.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated sharply this week, with Israeli air strikes killing more than 700 people in Lebanon.

The escalation has raised fears of an even more destructive conflict between the heavily armed adversaries.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu said: “As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice, and Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely.”

Several delegations walked out as Netanyahu approached the lectern while supporters in the gallery cheered.

The United States did not have advanced warning of the Beirut strike and US  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart as the operation was ongoing, a Pentagon spokesperson said on Friday.

Israel says its campaign aims to secure the safe return home of tens of thousands of people who were forced to flee homes in northern Israel because of rocket attacks Hezbollah has been carrying out in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas, which is fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip.

This week’s escalation has displaced about 100,000 people in Lebanon, increasing the total number of people uprooted in the country by the conflict to more than 200,000

Wong’s fresh warning

Australia’s Foreign minister Penny Wong will tell the United Nations the international community must unite to ensure rules of war are followed as conflict intensifies in the Middle East.

Wong will make the comments in Australia’s national statement to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Beyond hostilities in the Middle East, her speech also references Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar and Yemen.

“War has rules — every country in this room must abide by them,” she will say.

“Even when confronting terrorists … even when defending borders … no state should pretend the rules don’t apply to them.

“Israel must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.”

The world’s inability to end global conflicts has been partially due to countries not abiding by the rules of war, Senator Wong contends.

“We must remember why we built this institution,” she will say.

“The UN system is where the world comes together to agree and uphold standards and rules; to protect all of the world’s peoples and the sovereignty of all nations.

“These rules always matter — never more so than in times of conflict — when they help guide us out of darkness, back toward light, back on a path towards peace, stability and prosperity.”

Moving the dial on the trend will require a unified effort by the international community, including through the UN.

“We must rally to defend these rules that protect us all; these rules that form the character of the world that we want,” the minister will say.

“The international community — including the Security Council — must work together to pave a path to lasting peace.

“The world cannot keep hoping the parties will do this themselves; we cannot allow any party to obstruct the prospect of peace.”

-with AP