Israel has dealt Hezbollah heavy blows since launching its offensive in late September, escalating the conflict that had rumbled on in parallel to the Gaza war for a year. Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israel and its fighters have been battling Israeli troops on the ground in the south.

Plumes of smoke rose over Beirut, while airstrikes and artillery shelling inflicted heavy damage on buildings in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil.