The strikes come after Hezbollah's leader vowed to take revenge on Israel who it accuses of an audacious attack on pagers and handheld radios.

Israel’s attack on Hezbollah’s communication devices raised expectations of a decisive shift in their war of attrition. Instead, the fighting has returned to a standoff.

Israel has carried out what its military called a “targeted strike” on Beirut. It offered no further immediate details.