Five dead after Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut near government buildings

Firefighters and rescuers gather outside a computer shop hit in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

An Israeli airstrike hit a densely populated residential area in Lebanon’s capital near key government and diplomatic buildings late Monday, killing at least five people as the US pressed ahead with ceasefire efforts.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said two missiles hit the area of Zoqaq al-Blat neighbourhood – where local UN headquarters and Lebanon’s parliament and prime minister’s office are located.