An Israeli airstrike killed at least 20 people in central Beirut on Saturday, Lebanon's health ministry said, one of the deadliest strikes on the heart of the capital since Israel began its assault against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in September.

A powerful airstrike killed at least four people in central Beirut early on Saturday, the health ministry said, shaking the Lebanese capital as Israel pressed its offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

A powerful Israeli airstrike killed 11 in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah operatives. The bombing marks the fourth attack this week in central Beirut, with Israel citing Hezbollah's use of civilian areas as shields.