Israel-Hezbollah live updates: Strikes on Beirut, oil prices surge after Joe Biden’s comments

Powerful blasts rocked Beirut in some of the heaviest Israeli strikes on the city, as Qantas plans at least two flights to rescue Aussies trapped in Lebanon.

A series of huge explosions have rocked the densely populated neighbourhoods just south of Beirut, including an area near the airport, as shock waves shook buildings across the Lebanese capital.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said more than 11 consecutive strikes have been recorded so far (late Thursday local time), in one of the most violent raids since Israel began its bombing campaign.

At least 37 people were killed and 151 wounded by Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the last 24 hours.

One of Israel’s strike hit outside the perimeter of Beirut’s international airport as the strikes echoed to mountain regions outside the capital.

“An Israeli air strike targeted a warehouse adjacent to the airport,” the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. It was unclear what the warehouse contained.

Flames rise from Israeli air strikes near Beirut airport. Picture: Hussein Malla

Amid the heightening dangers, Qantas is in talks with the federal government to operate at least two rescue flights from Cyprus.

If the Cyprus flights go ahead, it will be the second time Qantas has flown into the Middle East for the purpose of bringing out at-risk Australians.

It comes as US President Joe Biden revealed he was “discussing” strikes on Iranian oil facilities as part of Israel’s response to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack.

Oil prices spiked and supertankers vacated Iran’s oil terminals as fears grew of an imminent attack.

Supertankers fled Kharg Island dock after Joe Biden revealed Israel, in co-ordination with the US, was considering targeting oil facilities as part of its response to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held high-level security consultations with the US to co-ordinate Israel’s “harsh response”.

Meanwhile the Lebanese army said it opened fire on the IDF for the first time in nearly a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah following the death of a Lebanese soldier.

Israel combat deaths rose to nine as the IDF pushed further into Lebanon, with armed forces chief of staff Herzi Halevi saying Hezbollah would not be allowed to “settle” back into their strongholds.

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Originally published as Israel-Hezbollah live updates: Strikes on Beirut, oil prices surge after Joe Biden’s comments