Middle East updates: Israel strikes central Beirut

News agencies cited witnesses in reports that an Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in central Beirut.

If confirmed this would be the first Israeli strike within the city limits of Beirut in almost a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and comes amid continued attacks throughout Lebanon.

The Reuters news agency reported that an upper floor of an apartment building in the Kola district of Beirut was hit and cited witnesses as having heard a bang and seeing smoke rising from the upper floor of the building.