The attack struck in the heart of the Lebanese capital after a series of evacuation warnings — the first for the city center during the war.

The strikes, which destroyed an eight-story building and left a crater in the ground, were the fourth in Beirut in less than a week.

By Maayan Lubell, Maya Gebeily and Laila Bassam JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel mounted waves of pounding airstrikes in Beirut on Tuesday as its security cabinet was due to discuss a ceasefire deal with its Hezbollah foes that could take effect as soon as Wednesday.