(BSS/AFP) - AFP footage showed strikes hitting south Beirut Thursday about an hour after the Israeli army called for residents of the Hezbollah bastion to leave, including from a location near Lebanon`s international airport.

AFP footage showed several plumes of smoke rising above south Beirut, with AFP journalists in the Lebanese capital hearing loud bangs.

Earlier, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee had urged residents of four south Beirut neighbourhoods to evacuate, posting maps on social media that included an area near the Beirut airport.

On Wednesday, nine Israeli strikes hit south Beirut, Lebanese state media said, targeting what the Israeli military said was Hezbollah infrastructure, including command centres and weapons depots.

Hezbollah began low-intensity cross-border attacks on Israel in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas following its October 7, 2023 attack.

More than a year of clashes that escalated into war in September have killed at least 3,050 people in Lebanon, according to health ministry figures.