Israeli warplanes launched at least three airstrikes in Beirut on Friday, creating chaos as residents rushed to leave.

The strikes, the first to hit Beirut since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on Nov. 27, came as a shock.

Israel attacked Beirut as the Lebanese were preparing to mark the International Quds Day in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Hezbullah said due to the Zionist regime's aggression on the southern suburbs in Beirut, it has been decided to cancel Quds Day rally.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is in Paris, is in contact with international actors to pressure Israel to calm the situation, according to local media.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held an urgent meeting with security and military officials in Beirut to discuss the necessary steps to avoid further escalation.

The Israeli military said in a statement on Telegram that it had attacked a drone storage facility belonging to Hezbollah in southern Beirut

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency said that “Israeli warplanes struck the Hadath neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs”, referring to a densely populated area which is home to residential buildings and schools.

Hezbollah firmly denies any role in rocket fire from Lebanon at northern occupied Palestine: statement

Israel claimed it struck Beirut in response to rocket attacks by Hezbollah. Hezbollah firmly denied on Friday any role in the rocket fire.

In a statement, Hezbollah’s media relations office cited a source within the Lebanese resistance group, affirming commitment to the ceasefire deal.

The source firmly denied any role in the rocket fire at northern occupied Palestine.

“Such events come as part of fabricating suspicious pretexts to go ahead with the aggression on Lebanon,” the statement added, citing the source.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli occupation military said two rockets were fired from Lebanon, claiming that one was intercepted and the other fell inside Lebanese territory.

Al-Manar correspondent reported Israeli artillery fire targeting several towns in south Lebanon, with some including white phosphorus munitions.

Last week, similar incident took place, when the Israeli enemy claimed several rockets were fired from Lebanon at the Israeli settlement of Metula. The Israeli occupation army, back then, carried out a series of strikes that targeted several areas across south Lebanon, with Hezbollah also denying involvement in the rocket fire.

President Aoun: Israeli ‘malicious’ attacks intended to drag Lebanon back into circle of violence

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said that Israel’s latest attacks on Beirut were a “malicious attempt to bring Lebanon back into the vicious circle of violence”.

[The attacks] make us more adamant to maintain our sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory under our Lebanese army,” he said at a news conference in Paris alongside France’s President Macron.

“We appeal on all the friends of Lebanon, from Paris to Washington, to swiftly act to prevent the situation from escalating and enable Lebanon to honor all the international resolutions on all Lebanese home soil.”

Macron says Israeli attacks on Beirut are ‘unacceptable’ ceasefire violation, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Israeli attacks on Beirut were “unacceptable” and a violation of the ceasefire.

“Israel’s attacks on Lebanon are unacceptable, what has taken place is unjust and unhelpful. That’s why France will continue to stand by you to ensure and maintain your sovereignty and security,” he said, speaking alongside President Aoun.

The two leaders met at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the country as a fragile truce with Israel increasingly comes under pressure.

Macron said the Lebanese army had been deployed throughout most of southern Lebanon and had ensured there was no Hezbollah presence there.

Beirut attack could mark beginning of new phase in Israel’s war on Lebanon 

Beirut-based journalist Ali Rizk has told Al Jazeera that while the French president criticized the Israeli attacks on Beirut, it will be interesting to see how the United States responds.

“Are they going to say that Israel has the right to defend itself, as we’re accustomed to, or is there going to be a different reaction given that this [attack] undermines Washington’s allies?” he said.

The Trump administration had previously reassured Lebanon that the capital would not be struck again after the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in late November.

However, Israel now claims it hit a building in its southern suburbs because Hezbollah drones were stored.

Rizk said that while Israel had previously attacked what it said were missile storage sites, the fact that it was now claiming to be targeting a drone depot in the capital could set a new precedent.

“Is this now the start of a new phase whereby the Lebanese capital is going to be targeted time and time again?” Rizk said.

"Unexpected attack"

Al Jazeera reporter Ali Hashem in Beirut said, “We are by the building [in Hadath, Beirut] attacked by Israel, and it is total destruction here.

It is a residential block in which many families lived, and many of them watched the building as Israeli warplanes destroyed it.

Also, the apartments and shops in the surrounding area have been affected by the Israeli air strikes, many windows were shattered.

There is a game-changer here; since the November 27 ceasefire, this is the first time Israel targeted Beirut.

People living here did not expect Israel to attack so deep into Lebanese territory.”