First Thing: Israeli strikes hit Beirut as key route out of Lebanon cut off

Destroyed buildings and vehicles in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on a neighbourhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Photograph: Ali Alloush/Reuters

Good morning.

As Hezbollah continued to attack northern Israel, the Israeli military launched a series of strikes on southern Beirut in one of the most intense bombardments on the city since the campaign began last week. The New York Times and Axios have reported that Hashem Safieddine, the most likely candidate to replace Hassan Nasrallah as leader of Hezbollah and the head of its executive council, was the target of the strikes.