The Israeli military says it has struck the Lebanese capital of Beirut, targeting the militant commander allegedly behind the deaths of 12 children and teenagers in Golan Heights.
The strike comes days after a rocket strike from Lebanon killed the 12 youths. Israel blames the Hezbollah militant group, which has denied any role in the attack.
A loud blast was heard and a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the southern suburbs - a stronghold of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah - at around 7.40pm (1640 GMT), a Reuters witness said.
"The IDF carried out a targeted strike in Beirut, on the commander responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams and the killing of numerous additional Israeli civilians," the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement.
It said it had issued no new instructions for civil defence in Israel following the strike.
A senior Lebanese security source said the commander's fate remained unclear.
Lebanon's state-run national news agency said an Israeli strike had targeted the area around Hezbollah's Shura Council in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of the capital.
Beirut has been on edge for days ahead of an anticipated Israeli attack in retaliation for a strike on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed a dozen youngsters.
Israel and the United States have blamed Hezbollah for the attack. Hezbollah has denied responsibility.
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