Among those reportedly present was Hashem Safieddine, a cousin and potential successor to the recently assassinated Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes on Thursday caused powerful explosions that shook buildings across Beirut, reverberating throughout the densely populated Dahyia neighborhood.
TV footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the building after the airstrike, which also caused extensive damage to nearby houses and parked vehicles. Ambulances and civil defense teams quickly arrived at the scene for rescue efforts, according to Xinhua news agency.
Naim Kassem said in a televised statement Monday that if Israel decides to launch a ground offensive, Hezbollah fighters are ready to fight and defend Lebanon
The strike on Qaouk follows the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a deadly airstrike on the group's headquarters in southern Beirut late Friday.
They have urged Indian nationals living in Lebanon to leave the country as soon as possible and recommended that everyone exercise "extreme caution" while staying in touch with the Embassy, which must remain on-site amid the escalating situation.
Israeli military intercepts surface-to-surface missile, which set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel; no reports of casualties or damage