Israel intensified its assault on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut and southern Lebanon on Saturday, launching a series of airstrikes. The Iran-backed

Israel killed Hezbollah’s chief spokesman in a rare central Beirut airstrike. An anonymous Hezbollah official confirmed the death of Mohammed Afif to the Associated Press, while two Lebanese security sources confirmed it to Reuters.

Two waves of Israeli strikes hit the Hezbollah-controlled Dahiya neighborhood of Beirut overnight into Thursday, with Lebanese authorities reporting at least six people killed and 15 others wounded in the attacks. The Israel Defense Forces had called for residents to evacuate hours before the strikes.