Israel targets southern suburbs of Beirut, just days after ceasefire agreement

Israel bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut today, just days after a fragile ceasefire reached in talks in Washington came into effect.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today's attacks were in retaliation for attacks by the Israeli militant group Hezbollah on northern Israel earlier today. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility for the attacks on Israel.

Israel has targeted these urban neighborhoods of Beirut twice since the first agreement between Lebanon and Israel came into effect on April 17. Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, on the other hand, continue daily, and Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops have clashed there.

Residents heard three explosions in the southern suburbs of Beirut. It is not yet known what the target of the attacks was and there are no reports of possible casualties.

A new ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered by the US, was announced during talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington last week.

Hezbollah, which backs Iran, rejected the agreement, insisting that Iran's demand that an end to the war in Lebanon be part of negotiations to end the war with the United States should be respected.

Israel, in addition to the agreed ceasefire, hit more than 150 Hezbollah military targets across southern Lebanon over the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centers.

Israel identified at least five missiles launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel early this morning, which were either intercepted or fell in open areas. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility for firing the missiles at Israel.