Israel launches airstrike on Beirut after Hezbollah hits northern Israel with 140 rockets

Israel and Hezbollah have hit each other with more airstrikes over roughly the past 24 hours, with Israel striking a Beirut suburb Friday.

The Israeli military said it carried out a “targeted strike” in Beirut, according to the Associated Press. 

The strike follows Hezbollah pounding northern Israel with 140 rockets, an apparent retaliation for Israel's massive bombing attack on the militant group. 

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed Thursday to continue the daily strikes on Israel, despite this week’s deadly sabotage of its members’ communication devices.

At least 20 were killed and thousands were wounded in the attacks in which pagers, walkie-talkies and other devices exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged near-daily fire since Oct. 8, 2023 – the day after the Palestinian-backed militant group Hamas' terror attack on Israel, which has result in the war in Gaza between the sides.

The sophisticated electronic devices attacks earlier this week have heightened fears that the cross-border exchanges of fire will escalate into all-out war. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks, the wire service also reports.