Beirut comes under fire in Israel's new offensive on Lebanon

Israel's Prime Minister has warned his country will "attack anywhere in Lebanon, against any threat." Benjamin Netanyahu was speaking after the Israeli military launched airstrikes on the Lebanese capital for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah militants was signed last November.

Israel claims it was retaliating after cross-border strikes targeted villages in its northern district, with a rocket being intercepted earlier on Friday in the second such attack of its kind in a week.

It said a drone storage unit used by Hezbollah fighters had been hit in the Beirut strikes, which came after an advance warning was issued. 

The notice sparked panic, with residents fleeing the area in cars and on foot. Schools were ordered to be evacuated.

Lebanon's government dismissed Israel's claims. It says the latest strikes on Beirut are a continuation of a campaign that has seen an estimated 4,000 Lebanese citizens killed by Israeli forces, since the latest phase in the conflict began after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

On social media Netanyahu spoke of a "new situation in Lebanon" that had not been internalized" by Israel's opponents. "We will not allow shooting at our communities, not even a drizzle" he said.

Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun, on a trip to Paris, said the attack on Beirut was "continuation of Israel's violation of the agreement sponsored by France and the US". 

Aoun claimed his country was committed to the ceasefire and called on the international community to "force Israel to abide by the agreement".

November's deal with Hezbollah put an end to more than 13 months of conflict between Lebanon and Israel, which is trying to contain the threat from Iran-backed militant groups in the region.