Hamas leader killed in Lebanon; Strike hits central Beirut

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Naem Qassem will give a speech shortly.

It is the militant group's first major public comment since the killing of former long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli strike. The Iran-backed group has not yet announced his replacement.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced that three of its leaders were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Cola neighborhood in central Beirut.

The deceased included Mohammed Abdel Aal, Emad Odeh and Abdel Rahman Abdel Aal.

The left-wing PFLP is classified as a terrorist group by the United States, but is also a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, a coalition recognized by the United Nations as the official representative of the Palestinians.

Israeli officials have not yet commented on the attack on the Cola district.

An Israeli airstrike appeared to hit a building in Beirut's central Cola district last night, according to videos posted on social media.

Videos geolocated by NBC News show damage to the multi-story building as debris can be seen on the ground below. People can also be seen gathering around the building as several ambulances drive towards the area.

It was not immediately clear whether there were any deaths or injuries in connection with the reported strike, nor was it clear whether the strike was intentionally directed against Cola.

Cola, a stone's throw from downtown Beirut, is known as a lively district and is home to a bus station. This would be the first Israeli attack in the heart of the Lebanese capital in this round of conflict.

Hamas said Fateh Sherif Abu Al-Amin, the group's leader in Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the south of the country.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Palestinian militant group said Al-Amin was killed along with his wife and children “in their home in the (Al-Bas) camp.”

While Hamas is based in the Gaza Strip, it has a long-standing presence in Lebanon.